41 Chinese vessels seen in various parts of West Philippine Sea in May

More than 135 Chinese militia ships were “dispersed and scattered” within Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef in the West Philippine Sea during a patrol by the Philippine Coast Guard. (PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD photo dated Sept. 11, 2024)

MANILA, Philippines — Forty-one Chinese vessels were monitored in various areas within the West Philippine Sea last month, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla reported that these vessels were sighted at Scarborough Shoal, Ayungin Shoal and Pag-asa Island from May 1 to 30.

“As part of continued maritime surveillance, Chinese government-affiliated vessels remained persistently present in key areas in the West Philippine Sea,” Padilla said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

“Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal registered with the highest presence, with 15 China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and 11 PLA (People’s Liberation Army) Navy vessels monitored,” she revealed.

“In Ayunin Shoal, six CCG vessels and one PLA Navy vessel were sighted; and in Pagasa Island, four PLA Navy vessels and four CCG vessels were also monitored,” she noted.

Apart from the 41 ships, Padilla disclosed that more Chinese vessels were monitored throughout various features of the Kalayaan Island Group and other Philippine maritime zones.

She, however, clarified that these vessels were seen at various times throughout the recording period and “were not permanently positioned but may have passed through designated monitoring zones as part of their transit.”

In the same period, Padilla disclosed that the AFP also logged 15,765 vessels across the archipelago — 12,608 were foreign vessels and 3,157 were domestic vessels.