Almost 150 Chinese warships have been spotted at multiple West Philippine Sea (WPS) features, the Philippine Navy announced on Tuesday, June 11.
From May 28 to June 3, the Navy monitored 125 Chinese vessels in Philippine waters. The number is now at 146.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA), whose vessels are among this number, have doubled their ships in seven days--June 4 to 10 saw the addition of 11 more ships.
The China Coast Guard's (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia's vessels amount to 16 and 108 respectively.
Most are assembled at Ayungin Shoal, only 105 nautical miles from Palawan and well within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Forty-two were sighted at the Pag-asa Island, and 33 at Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal.
In a press conference, Philippine Navy Spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said this increase in warships coincides with the naval exercises China conducted by Sabina Shoal within the month.
“The increase is in the number of PLA Navy ships which could be attributed to the just concluded exercises conducted by the PLA Navy last June 2, 3, and 4 in the vicinity of Sabina Shoal," Trinidad said.
He anticipated the onset of the rainy season would affect not only China's presence in the areas, but other claimants' as well.
“The weather affects all players, all claimant countries to include not only China, Vietnam, the Philippines, everybody. Lahat po tayo apektado ng weather [all of us are affected by the weather]."
