23 Chinese vessels spotted in WPS, says Navy official

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea —Arnel Tacson, INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy said on Tuesday that 23 Chinese vessels were monitored in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from July 21 to July 27.

Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said the China Coast Guard (CCG) and People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) vessels were seen in four key features of the WPS.

READ: Chinese ship conducting ‘intrusive patrol’ spotted near Manila Bay

He said in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo that the 23 vessels included seven CCG and seven PLA-N ships in Bajo de Masinloc; four CCG and two PLA-N ships in Ayungin Shoal; one PLA-N vessel in Sabina Shoal; and one CCG and one PLA-N ship in Pag-asa Island.

Trinidad noted that at the height of inclement weather from July 19 to July 21, no Chinese ships were monitored in Bajo de Masinloc. The number of Chinese ships in the WPS significantly drops during bad weather, he added. —Gabryelle Dumalag