West Philippine Sea: 190 Chinese vessels spotted last week, Navy says

This handout photo taken on December 2, 2023 and released on December 3 by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shows an aerial view of Chinese vessels gathered by Whitsun Reef, around 320 kilometres (200 miles) west of Palawan Island, in disputed waters of the West Philippine Sea. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy reported the presence of 190 Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from September 30 to October 6, higher than the 178 ships recorded in the week prior.

Of the 190 vessels monitored, 11 People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) and 17 Chinese Coast Guards (CCG) ships are at the Panatag, Ayungin, and Escoda shoals, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla said in a Tuesday briefing.

READ: Chinese vessels in West Philippine Sea drops to 178, PH navy reports

Three more CCG and six more PLA-N ships were seen in other areas of the WPS during the same period.

“This highlights the continued presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea that blatantly disregards the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling, which reaffirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone,” Padilla said.

READ: West Philippine Sea: Largest presence of Chinese ships logged – Navy

The Navy logged an all-time high of 251 Chinese vessels in the WPS from September 17 to 23. The number dropped to 178 ships from September 24 to 30, but Trinidad previously said it was “too early”