MANILA, Philippines — There has been an increase in the number of Chinese vessels that have been monitored in parts of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) all of which were within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), according to a US-based tracking system.
A total of seven Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels were sighted on Wednesday night from one on May 27, 2024 in Zamora (Subi) Reef, based on the Automatic Identification System (AIS) that provides updates on movements at sea, particularly in the Indo-Pacific Region.
The reef is an atoll located just 26 kilometers southwest of Pag-asa Island which is under the municipality of the Kalayaan Island Group in Palawan. However, it is currently occupied by China and also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. According to Beijing, it currently falls under the de facto jurisdiction of Nansha islands. But under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (Unclos), which China is also a signatory, only the Philippines has the maritime rights to exploit its resources or build structures, as it is within the continental shelf of the coastal country.
On the other hand, 11 CMM ships and one China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel were monitored off Panganiban (Mischief) Reef on Wednesday afternoon. from only two CMM ships that were sighted in the area on May 26, according to the AIS.
Panganiban Reef is located 250 kilometers west of Palawan and administratively, it belongs to the municipality of Kalayaan. However, China has created a large artificial island on the atoll, including an approximately 2,700-meter runway and an airfield.
Get the latest news
delivered to your inbox
Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters
By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Meanwhile, at least nine CMM vessels and 1 CCG ship were sighted off Escoda (Sabina) Shoal on May 29. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship, BRP Teresa Magbanua, was also in the vicinity of the shoal.
In Pag-asa Island, 16 CMM ships and one CCG ship were sighted in the afternoon of May 28.
Two CCG ships and eight CMM vessels were seen off Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal on May 27.
>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : The Manila Times – https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/05/30/news/more-chinese-ships-tracked-within-ph-ecozone/1949153