AFP: Number of Chinese ships in West PH Sea drops to 12 amid bad weather

A Chinese Navy tugboat is spotted about five nautical miles away from BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. FILE PHOTO FROM THE PHILIPPINE NAVY

MANILA, Philippines — Only 12 Chinese vessels were monitored in key areas of the West Philippine Sea over the past week, down from the usual 14 to 20 ships, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday, attributing the drop to recent typhoons.

Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said the Philippine Navy observed nine Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels in Bajo de Masinloc, one People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ship near Pag-asa Island, and two CCG ships in Ayungin Shoal during recent patrols.

“For the past week it has been constant, but if we compare this with the average of our monthly monitoring, it decreased in Bajo de Masinloc and Ayungin Shoal,” Trinidad told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo. “This is on account of the weather—Typhoon Nando and the one before it.”

Trinidad said the Philippines conducted seven patrol missions in Bajo de Masinloc and one in the northern islands this month. He added that rough seas have also limited Philippine patrols.

“Generally when the weather is bad, we do not set out patrols, especially when the storm is strong. Our ships are in port,” he said.

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Asked if China increased its presence after last week’s water cannon attack on a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel, Trinidad said no surge was observed.

“The numbers were fairly constant after that incident. There is no noted increase,” he said.

‘Common threats’

Trinidad also responded to reports that China warned against North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-like security arrangements in Asia, saying the Philippines welcomes stronger security ties with like-minded nations.

“It is a normal action of countries to band together when they face common threats,” he said. “Collective security does not endanger the region — it ensures that the region will remain peaceful.”

He cited recent agreements to boost defense cooperation between the Philippines and the United Kingdom, as well as ongoing talks with Italy to strengthen defense relations. /jpv