Mas Siksik sa WPS: PH Navy Counts 49 Chinese Vessels in One Week

The Philippine Navy said it monitored a total of 49 Chinese vessels in key areas of the West Philippine Sea from March 15 to 22, a noticeable jump from the 30 ships recorded earlier this month.

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the largest concentration was seen at Bajo de Masinloc, where 28 Chinese ships were spotted. The Navy also logged eight vessels near Ayungin Shoal, five at Escoda Shoal, and another eight around Pagasa Island.

According to the breakdown shared by the Navy, the ships included units from the People's Liberation Army Navy and the China Coast Guard. That matters because these are not random fishing boats lang—these are state-backed vessels operating in disputed waters.

Tensions in the area remain high as Beijing continues to assert sweeping claims over almost the entire South China Sea, even though several neighbors including the Philippines also have claims there. The waters are a major global trade route, with more than $3 trillion in annual shipborne commerce passing through.

The Philippines has long insisted that parts of the sea within its maritime zone are part of the West Philippine Sea. A 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration sided with Manila and said China's expansive claim had no legal basis, but China has continued to reject that decision.

Source: GMA News Online — https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/981150/ph-navy-49-chinese-vessels-spotted-in-wps-last-week/story/