The Philippine military reported 101 different Chinese coast guard and naval vessels around four maritime features during September, up from 56 in August. Spokesman Roy Vincent Trinidad presented the figures on October 6. He withheld an assessment of the increase, saying he preferred to examine a longer six-month period towards the end of the year.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it monitored 101 different Chinese coast guard and naval vessels during September around four maritime features in the area Manila calls the West Philippine Sea. The August total was 56. Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the military’s spokesman for the area, announced the monthly figures to defence reporters on 6 October.[1], [2]
The count covers 1–30 September. The military monitored vessels around Ayungin Shoal, Bajo de Masinloc, Escoda Shoal and Pag-asa Island in the South China Sea. Trinidad said the ships belonged to the China Coast Guard and the People’s Liberation Army Navy, China’s naval force. He described the total as different vessels observed around the four features during the month.[1]
Trinidad withheld an assessment of the rise, saying he preferred to examine a longer six-month period towards the end of the year. The figures come from Philippine military monitoring. China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, including areas inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims in parts of the waterway.[1]
