The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) stated on Thursday that it has sent more assets to the Kalayaan Group of Islands in the West Philippine Sea in response to ongoing Chinese incursions in the disputed waters.
Additional ships were deployed in the islands to conduct sovereignty patrols, according to AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar, as part of the military's mission to "protect Filipinos and the state" in collaboration with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Aguilar made the remarks during a press conference a day after the Philippines and other countries commemorated the 7th anniversary of the South China Sea arbitration judgment.
He said that it is their responsibility as part of the purpose to safeguard their fellow Filipinos and the state.
Aguilar added that they are deploying extra assets alongside the Philippine Coast Guard to ensure that people's rights and safety in the West Philippine Sea are protected.
He did not specify how many assets were deployed but pledged that they would devote more time to patrolling larger regions in the West Philippine Sea, the part of the South China Sea over which the Philippines claims sovereignty.
When asked if the enhanced deployment was intended to discourage Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, Aguilar responded that it was not.
The announcement came just days after the Navy reported 48 Chinese warships in the West Philippine Sea, including the Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal.
Meanwhile, the PCG reported that it was still providing fishing boats and supplies to fishermen in the Kalayaan island group.
The coast guard claimed in a Facebook post that these comprised 20-foot fiber-reinforced plastic boats, two units of marine engines (diesel), underwater fittings, 20 PVC black pipes, ropes, and nylon.
The PCG stated that this was in response to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources' (BFAR) help to fishermen on Pag-asa Island (Thitu Island).
