West Philippine Sea: Large fleet of Chinese ships seen in Pagasa Island

This aerial photo shows part of the Subi Reef and Chinese vessels identified by the Philippines as “maritime militia” near Thitu Island in the disputed South China Sea on December 1, 2023. File photo / JAM STA ROSA / AFP

MANILA, Philippines — An “extraordinarily large” fleet of Chinese ships were spotted inside the territorial sea of Pagasa (Thitu) Island, a West Philippine Sea monitor said on Wednesday.

As of Tuesday, “at least 73-75 ships” were spotted 2.5 to 5.5 nautical miles (NM) off Pagasa Island, well within its 12 NM territorial waters, according to SeaLight director and retired US Air Force colonel Ray Powell.

“[This is] by far the largest PRC [People’s Republic of China] vessel swarm I’ve ever seen off Thitu (Pag-asa) Island,” Powell, who is the program head of Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

READ: West PH Sea: New hangar on Pagasa Island finished before yearend – AFP

Previously, the Philippine Navy confirmed reports that there had been a vast reduction of Chinese maritime militia vessels off Pagasa Island.

“Their absence or reduction in numbers is attributable to the spate of typhoons that have hit the country in the recent weeks,” said Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, during a regular press briefing on Tuesday.

READ: West Philippine Sea: Around 8 China ships spotted at Escoda – Navy

When asked if the huge number of ships in Pagasa Island meant that they are coming back after better weather, Powell told INQUIRER.net: “Hard to say. This is an extraordinarily large number—as I said, the most I’ve recorded by a good margin.”

Powell further said this latest move might indicate that China is “taking advantage of the political turmoil in Manila to send a message,” directly referring to the verbal feud of Marcos and Duterte, the two prominent political families who used to be allies.

Pag-asa Island is the largest maritime feature in the Kalayaan Island Group, which serves as the seat of the local government of the Municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan.

More than 400 civilian locals — including some 70 children — call the island home together with stationed military, law enforcement, and civilian government personnel.

China, however, asserts ownership over Pagasa Island in line with its sovereignty claim in the entire South China Sea, which was effectively dismissed by an international tribunal ruling in 2016.