OVER 80 Chinese maritime militia and fishing vessels were reported to have been monitored near the Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.
The Armed Forces said it was not surprised by the presence of 83 Chinese vessels, as disclosed by US maritime expert Ray Powell, as it said the area is near the Chinese-held Subi Reef.
Powell, on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday morning, said, “Despite clouds, I count at least 73-75 ships sitting 2.5-5.5 nautical miles from Philippines-held island — well within its 12nm (nautical miles) territorial sea.”
Powell said this was by far the largest Chinese swarm he has seen off Pag-asa Island.
On Wednesday afternoon, Powell said: “Marine Traffic confirms at least 83 China militia and fishing ships within Philippines Thitu (Pag-Asa) Island’s territorial sea right now.”
Pag-asa island, the largest among the nine features occupied by Filipino troops, is located some 280 nautical miles northwest of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan. It serves as the seat of government of Palawan’s Kalayaan town. It is about 12 nautical miles from the Chinese-occupied Subi Reef, which had been subjected to land reclamation in 2012. It now has runway and ports, and equipped with advanced weapon systems.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy’s spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said the figures given by Powell were “fairly accurate.”
Trinidad Chinese vessels abound at Subi Reef and several other Chinese-occupied features in the West Philippine Sea.
He described these features as safe harbors for the Chinese “so there’s concentration of their maritime militia, PLA (People’s Liberation Army) Navy and Chinese Coast Guard (in these areas).”
Trinidad said Subi Reef serves as terminal or parking area of Chinese maritime militia vessels. He said there have been instances when there were 150 to 200 Chinese vessels in Subi Reef.
“So if they leave Subi, that is already within 12 nautical miles from Pag-asa .. If they leave (Subi), they get near (Pag-asa Island),” he said.
Trinidad reiterated the presence of these Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea is illegal.
