‘EXTRAORDINARILY LARGE’ FLEET OF CHINESE VESSELS SPOTTED OFF WPS

A maritime expert monitored more than 80 Chinese vessels within Pag-asa Island saying it is an extraordinarily large number, and the most he recorded by a good margin (Photo courtesy of Ray Powell/X)

Over 80 Chinese militia and fishing vessels were monitored in Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Wednesday, according to an expert monitoring the presence of Chinese ships in the area.

SeaLight director and retired US Air Force colonel Ray Powell said that “Marine Traffic confirms at least 83 China militia & fishing ships within Philippines Thitu (Pag-Asa) Island's territorial sea.” 

Last Tuesday, Powell reported at least 73-75 ships were seen 2.5 to 5.5 nautical miles (NM) off Pagasa Island, well within its 12 NM territorial waters. Saying it was “by far the largest PRC (People’s Republic of China) vessel swarm I’ve ever seen off Thitu (Pag-asa) Island.”

Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the 75 Chinese ships in Pag-asa Island would be “fairly accurate” considering the WPS feature is close to Subi Reef, which is already militarized by Beijing.

“Our monitoring would show us those numbers, because Subi Reef is within the territorial sea of Pag-asa, so those numbers would be fairly accurate. It is close to Pag-asa when you exit Subi,” said Trinidad.

The Philippine Navy said the presence of Chinese vessels remains a threat after the military conducted 54 activities in the WPS this November. Despite China's presence, Trinidad said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will keep performing its mandate in protecting the WPS.

"The presence of the maritime militia, the People's Liberation Army Navy, and the Coast Guard, which has been there for quite some time, is a continuing threat," Trinidad had said.

"We have monitored them. We are tracking them. They are an existential threat," he added.

Pag-asa Island is around 285 nautical miles from Palawan. It is the largest maritime feature in the Kalayaan Island Group, which serves as the seat of the local government of the Municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

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