The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported a significant decrease in the number of Chinese maritime militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), attributing the reduced presence to unfavorable weather conditions over the past several days.
“Because of the really bad weather over areas of the WPS, even the Chinese maritime militia that were swarming in those areas have significantly decreased,” PCG spokesperson for WPS, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday.
“There weren’t as many ships swarming in Rozul Reef and also in Hasa-Hasa Shoal,” he added.
When asked about the past and current number of Chinese maritime militia vessels in the area, Tarriela said he currently does not have the figures.
On Tuesday, the Philippine Navy reported a rise in the number of Chinese vessels spotted around certain features in the WPS in June.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy’s spokesperson for WPS matters, said a total of 49 vessels from the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) were monitored in the area.
Specifically, Trinidad noted that nine CCG and 14 PLAN vessels were seen near Bajo de Masinloc; 12 CCG and two PLAN vessels near Ayungin Shoal; and nine CCG, along with three PLAN vessels, near Pagasa Island.
“These 49 ships were not there all the time, but they were in and out of the different features,” Trinidad said.
According to him, the June record was the highest reported number of Chinese vessels in the WPS compared to the 11 in January, nine in February, 35 in March, 31 in April, and 41 in May.
The WPS refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago, including the Luzon Sea and the waters around, within, and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.
