PCG: ⁠7 Chinese vessels seen at Pag-asa Cay

A Chinese Coast Guard vessel is seen as personnel from the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard and Police Maritime Group conduct a maritime operation at Pag-asa Cay on Sunday. — Photo from the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine authorities monitored seven Chinese maritime militia vessels between Pagasa Cay 2 and Cay 3 during their maritime operation in the area on Sunday, according to an official of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

PCG for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) spokesperson, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said that one of the four composite teams deployed to the Pagasa cays spotted the Chinese vessels.

“The Team 2 also monitored the presence of China Coast Guard 5102. As a matter of fact, the CCG 5102 also launched the rigid-hulled inflatable boat, and they never landed on Pag-asa Cay 2,” Tarriela disclosed in a press conference on Monday.

READ: PCG: Maritime op at Pag-asa Cay proves China’s claim is false

“They have also monitored seven Chinese maritime militia vessels between Pag-asa Cay 2 and Pag-asa Cay 3. They are basically hampered between those Pag-asa cays,” he added.

Tarriela further revealed that the crew onboard the boat were taking photos and videos of the activities of Team 2 members, while the latter inspected the surroundings of Cay 2.

In the same briefing, Tarriela likewise debunked China’s claim that it seized control of Sandy Cay (Tiexian Reef).

He said the Inter-Agency Maritime Operation conducted at Pag-asa Cay 1, Cay 2, and Cay 3 and their surrounding waters proved that China’s claim is false.

On the other hand, National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya reminded China of its commitment to the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

“We remind them of their commitment in the 2002 declaration on the conduct, wherein it was agreed by those nations that signed the declaration on the conduct that there will be no occupation moving forward of unoccupied features,” Malaya said in the same press conference.

“We urge the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Coast Guard to maintain the status quo in the West Philippine Sea, consistent again with the 2002 declaration on the conduct, which they themselves are adhered to, which they themselves continue to refer to in every statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry,” he added.

On Sunday, Beijing’s state media reported that CCG had already implemented “maritime control” over the Tiexian Reef— a tiny sandbank, part of the Spratly Islands.

The report said CCG landed on Sandy Cay to “exercise sovereignty and jurisdiction” over the reef, carry out an “inspection,” and “collect video evidence regarding the illegal activities of the Philippine side.”

Since January, Philippine authorities monitored the movements of Chinese Coast Guard vessels “unlawfully operating” within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Beijing’s continued aggression was based on its assertion of sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, as it continues to reject the 2016 arbitral ruling that effectively dismissed its claims and ruled in favor of Manila.