Armed Forces of the Philippines reports Chinese vessel swarming in Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal. Western Command Armed Forces of the Philippines/File

SOUTH CHINA SEA

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171755582251920230630-china-spratlys-HO-11.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(51, 51, 51);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Armed Forces of the Philippines reports Chinese vessel swarming in Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal. <em>Western Command Armed Forces of the Philippines/File</em></span><em> </em></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">MANILA – The Philippine Navy on Wednesday reported an increase in the number of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels in the West Philippine Sea.</span></div><p>Eleven PLAN vessels were monitored from May 28 to June 3, compared to the only 5 spotted from May 21 to May 27, data released to reporters showed. </p><p>Of the 11 warships, 6 were seen in the vicinity of Sabina Shoal or Escoda Shoal.</p><p>In total, 125 vessels were monitored in Philippine-occupied features in the West Philippine Sea from May 28 to June 3. These include 9 China Coast Guard vessels, 11 PLAN vessels, and 105 Chinese maritime militia vessels.</p><p>This is slightly higher than the 122 Chinese vessels monitored the previous week.</p><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/4/afp-confirms-china-coast-guard-seized-dumped-supplies-meant-for-ayungin-troops-1127">China Coast Guard &#x27;seized, dumped&#x27; supplies meant for Ayungin troops: AFP</a><br/><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/4/afp-denies-brp-sierra-madre-troops-pointed-guns-at-ccg-personnel-919">AFP denies BRP Sierra Madre troops pointed guns at China Coast Guard</a></div><p>The Philippine Navy on Tuesday reiterated that China has no right to hold a military exercise within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).</p><p>This, as Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad confirmed that the PLAN conducted a two-day unilateral naval drill in Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on June 2 and 3. </p><p>Trinidad said the drills involved the launching of the hovercraft of the PLAN’s aircraft and maneuvers at sea.</p><p>“They have no right to be within our EEZ. The conduct of their exercise is unauthorized under UNCLOS. It’s not allowed,” the official told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.</p><p>“I would like to say that their actions are illegal, not within the bounds of international law. The AFP will not be deterred in performing its mandate,” he added.</p><p>Escoda Shoal or Sabina Shoal is located some 75 nautical miles or 120 kilometers from mainland Palawan.</p><p>It serves as a rendezvous point for the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ chartered resupply boats and their escort vessels from the Philippine Coast Guard during regular rotation and resupply (RoRe) missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/6/marcos-ph-will-not-invoke-defense-treaty-with-us-despite-fresh-sea-tensions-1606">Marcos: PH will not invoke defense treaty with US despite fresh sea tensions</a><br/><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/6/4/china-accuses-ph-of-continuously-intensifying-conflict-in-south-china-sea-1756">China accuses PH of &#x27;continuously&#x27; intensifying conflict in South China Sea</a></span></div><div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IlKl_YVhYFE" title="Navy spots more Chinese navy ships in West PH Sea: PH | Headline Ngayon (05 June 2024)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><strong>RAISE CHINA’S AGGRESSION BEFORE ASEAN? </strong></span></div><div><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">For Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) should take the issue of China’s aggression to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">He said China’s recent seizure of supplies for soldiers stationed at BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal was an “escalation” of the tension in the area. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Sana subukan kung kakayanin ng ating DFA na dalhin ito sa ASEAN. ‘Yan ang regional organization na kinabibilangan ng Pilipinas at hindi maikakaila ang isyung ito kaugnay sa West Philippine Sea ay nagaganap sa loob na nasasakupan ng ASEAN. Hindi kilalang political na asosasyon ang ASEAN subalit forum pa rin ito para mapag-usapan anumang nagaganap sa parteng ito ng ating mundo, dito sa ating rehiyon,” Escudero said. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(I hope the DFA tries to bring this to ASEAN. That is the regional organization to which the Philippines belongs to and it cannot be denied that this issue regarding the West Philippine Sea is happening within the jurisdiction of ASEAN. ASEAN is not known to be a political association but it is still a forum to discuss whatever is happening in this part of the world, in our region.) </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Escudero said filing another arbitration case against China is also an option. <strong>– With a report from Victoria Tulad, ABS-CBN News </strong></span></div><div><br/></div><div><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br/></div>

<p>The Philippine Navy on Wednesday reported an increase in the number of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels in the West Philippine Sea.</p>

The Philippine Navy on Wednesday reported an increase in the number of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

Number of Chinese Navy ships in West Philippine Sea doubles: PH Navy | ABS-CBN

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Number of Chinese Navy ships in West Philippine Sea doubles: PH Navy

Number of Chinese Navy ships in West Philippine Sea doubles: PH Navy

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 05, 2024 10:56 AM PHT

|

Updated Jun 05, 2024 12:52 PM PHT

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China Philippines

Philippine Navy

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West Philippine Sea

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