The number of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) has dropped to 157, down from 207 the previous week, according to the Philippine Navy. From September 10 to 16, the Navy tracked 123 Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels, 26 China Coast Guard (CCG) ships, seven People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships, and one research vessel.
The ships were spotted near key features of the WPS, including Bajo de Masinloc, Ayungin Shoal, Pagasa Islands, Lawak Island, Panata Island, Escoda Shoal, and Iroquois Reef. Escoda Shoal alone hosted nine CCG ships, four PLAN warships, and 52 CMM vessels.
This decrease follows last week's report of 207 Chinese vessels, the highest count recorded in 2024. Despite China's ongoing presence, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) emphasized that Philippine vessels can still access Escoda Shoal due to its multiple entry points.
Tensions between the Philippines and China persist, particularly in light of China's expansive claims in the South China Sea, which overlap with the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In 2016, the Philippines won an international arbitration case invalidating China's claims, but China has refused to recognize the ruling.
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