The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported on Tuesday a rise in the number of Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). The AFP noted that the number of CMM vessels has grown from 76 to 78, while the number of China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels has remained steady at 13.
In contrast, the AFP observed a reduction in Chinese warships. The number of People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels decreased from six, recorded between June 25 and July 1, to three, noted from July 2 to 8.
The AFP provided a detailed breakdown of the Chinese vessels in the WPS:
- Bajo de Masinloc: 4 CCG vessels, 10 CMM vessels
- Ayungin Shoal: 6 CCG vessels, 2 PLAN vessels, 26 CMM vessels
- Pagasa Island: 1 CCG vessel, 22 CMM vessels
- Kota Island: 1 CMM vessel
- Panata Island: 16 CMM vessels
- Patag Island: 1 CCG vessel, 3 CMM vessels
- Sabina Shoal: 1 CCG vessel
- Iroquois Reef: 1 PLAN vessel
On July 2, a bilateral meeting was held in Manila between the Philippines and China to address and de-escalate disputes in the WPS. Despite these efforts, tensions persist due to China’s extensive claims in the South China Sea, which overlap with areas claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.
The South China Sea is a crucial route for over $3 trillion in annual maritime trade. In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, stating that China’s claims in the South China Sea had “no legal basis.” However, China does not acknowledge this ruling.