West PH Sea: China fishing vessels, boats from other countries monitored

WPS COMPOSITE IMAGE from Inquirer, AFP, Reuters file photos

MANILA, Philippines — Two Chinese fishing vessels were monitored along the country’s east coast within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), according to Navy spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad.

Trinidad confirmed this in response to questions about the Chinese vessels, though he stated that further details on their exact location or the time of monitoring are still pending.

“Yes we have monitored them, latest location… I have to get the exact latitude and longitude, but from the report we received last night, we have monitored them on the east coast of the country,” the Navy official said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

READ: PH military cites AFP’s increased activity in West Philippine Sea

Meanwhile, WPS monitor Ray Powell posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the two Chinese fishing boats, Lu Rong Yu 51794 and Lu Yan Yuan Yu 017, “are currently operating off the east coast of the Philippines.

Powell added that the location is less than 20 nautical miles from the San Ildefonso Peninsula (Casiguran in Aurora Province).

At least two 🇨🇳Chinese fishing boats–the Lu Rong Yu 51794 & Lu Yan Yuan Yu 017–are currently operating off the east coast of the 🇵🇭#Philippines, less than 20nm from the San Ildefonso Peninsula (Casiguran, Aurora Province, Luzon). pic.twitter.com/MOGZvpSu7B

— Ray Powell (@GordianKnotRay) October 28, 2024

Trinidad, however, clarified that not only Chinese fishing vessels but also boats from other countries were monitored within the area, stressing that the report “is not alarming.”

“We have monitored not only them (Chinese vessels) but other maritime traffic within our EEZ, and we are coordinating with the appropriate government agencies on how to address this,” he said.

“This is not alarming, it is not only the Chinese fishing boats that we monitored there are also other fishing boats from other countries all over our EEZ, including Asean countries and Pacific Island States,” he added.

All factors are considered when it comes to the presence of foreign boats, including the weather, Trinidad also explained.

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“So recently, just after the typhoon passed, we noted an increase in the presence of maritime traffic; generally, during a typhoon, the number of traffic decreases,” he revealed.

When asked about the number of Chinese vessels monitored in the West Philippine Sea, Trinidad said the Navy releases this data at the end of each month.

Last October 15, the Armed Forces of the Philippines reported that 34 Chinese vessels were logged in three locations within the West Philippine from October 7 to 13.

During the last week of September, the Navy monitored 178 Chinese vessels in various locations within the West Philippine Sea.