This image shows the areas where China’s multi-purpose oceanographic research vessel Ke Xue San Hao sailed from July 26 to August 3. PCG  

MANILA – Chinese vessels have maintained their presence in the critical areas in the West Philippine Sea, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday.

There was a total of 122 Chinese coast guard, People’s Liberation Army Navy, and maritime militia vessels in the Philippine waters from July 30 to August 5 in Bajo de Masinloc, Ayungin Shoal, Pag-asa Islands, Escoda Shoal, and Rozul Reef, among others, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a media briefing at Camp Aguinaldo. 

The number includes China’s multi-purpose oceanographic research vessel Ke Xue San Hao in Escoda.

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This figure was higher than 102 Chinese vessels spotted from July 23 to 29.

“[We] challenge all foreign vessels. On the matter of enforcing maritime law, we leave it up to the Philippine Coast Guard,” Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said.

“The whole picture is that in the entire West Philippine Sea, we have monitored the presence of PLA Navy, the Chinese coast guard and the maritime militia. Overall, their actions are illegal, their presence is illegal, sometimes they are coercive, aggressive, and deceptive,” he added.

China claims most of the South China Sea, including parts of the West Philippine Sea -- despite an international tribunal ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. 

There have been escalating confrontations at sea between Chinese and Philippine ships as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims to the strategic waterway. 

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