China research ship Ke Xue San Hao. PCG 

MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday said that the number of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea increased to 122 this week.

This was higher than the 104 Chinese vessels monitored in the West Philippine Sea last week, said AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla.

“Every week, there are certain cases na tumataas yung bilang nila, there are also certain cases na bumababa ang bilang nila,” Padilla said.

“We cannot speculate on this kung ano yung reason behind, but some of the reasons could be yung weather natin was not good in the area,” she said.

China maintains presence in West Philippine Sea 

“The AFP is able to monitor these presence and act accordingly with issuance of challenges and kung ano yung mga aksyon na kailangan gawin ng Sandatahang Lakas,” she added.

The AFP has been reminding its personnel to adhere to International Humanitarian Law in all its operations, including in patrols in the West Philippine Sea, Padilla said.

“Yung pagsunod natin sa international humanitarian law, nagpapatibay ito sa commitment ng ating Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas na respetuhin ang karapatang pantao para mapanatili ang tiwala ng publiko sa ating Sandatahang Lakas,” she said.

“Nagti-train tayo dito, nagreregular tayo ng pagsasanay para yung edukasyon ng bawat sundalo sa international humanitarian law ay maiwasan natin yung mga paglabag sa mga legal cases,” the military spokesperson said.

“We do not want to have international na pagbatikos na nagkamali tayo o international criticism,” she added.

PCG tracks Chinese research ship near Escoda Shoal

While the Philippines will continue to assert its rights in its exclusive economic zone, the AFP heeds the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to remain “in pursuit of long-term peace and stability,” Padilla said.

“Gusto din nating ma-maintain ang morale ng ating soldiers,” she said.

“Each soldier should be a model sa pagsunod sa international humanitarian law… and we serve as a benchmark for other nations and militaries to emulate,” she said. “We are really setting the bar of how we implement our commitment to international humanitarian law.”

The Philippine Armed Forces is also committed to maintain humanitarian corridors to ensure that civilians in need of humanitarian aid can pass through, she said.

Beijing has continued to press its claims to almost the entire South China Sea, including parts of the West Philippine Sea, despite an international tribunal ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. 

China on Wednesday carried out a combat patrol to test "strike capabilities" near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, a flashpoint area also claimed by the Philippines.

Philippines holds joint patrols with US, Canada, Australia