The Philippine Navy monitored a total of 251 Chinese ships in the West Philippine Sea.
Based on the report of the Philippine Navy, 204 Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels, 28 Chinese Coast Guard Vessels, 16 People's Liberation Army Navy warships, and three Chinese Research Survey Vessels appeared in the West Philippine Sea from September 17 to September 23.
The Philippine Navy spotted these vessels at Sabina Shoal, also known as the Escoda Shoal; Ayungin Shoal; Iroquois Reef; Pagasa Island; Juan Felipe; Bajo de Masinloc; Likas Island; and Panata Island.
"Ito ang pinakamalaking increase (This is the biggest increase)," Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesperson of the Philippine Navy for the West Philippine Sea, admitted on Tuesday, September 24, during a press briefing.
Trinidad noted that the Philippine Navy only monitored 157 Chinese vessels from September 10 to September 16.
"From 157, it went up to 251. Whatever reason I don’t want to speculate on that, we continue monitoring, we continue performing our mandate," Trinidad said.
