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The number of Chinese ships at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal has increased to a “record-high” 82, including 11 warships, 10 days after the BRP Teresa Magbanua left the area on Sept. 14, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Tuesday.
The military said it is also monitoring a Chinese research vessel sailing close to Palawan’s coastline as of Monday.
The AFP said the Chinese deployment at Escoda was the first time it had observed that many warships of the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN).
Besides the 11 warships, 16 China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and 55 militia ships were also spotted at Escoda from Sept. 17 to Sept. 23, Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), said at a press briefing on Tuesday.
Earlier, the military said 65 Chinese ships were seen swarming the shoal from Sept. 10 to Sept. 16, as the Teresa Magbanua was leaving that area for repairs and to give its crew a much-needed rest after five months at sea.
As of Monday, there were a total of 251 Chinese ships swarming various parts of the West Philippine Sea.
“This is the biggest increase. From 157, it went down a bit. Then it went up to 251. For whatever reason, I don’t want to speculate on that. We continue monitoring. We continue performing our mandate,” Trinidad said.
