Manila: Almost two dozen Chinese naval and coast guard ships were spotted and monitored in four key features of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from July 21 to 27, a ranking Philippine Navy (PN) official said Tuesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, PN spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad reported at a media briefing in Camp Aguinaldo that the Chinese vessels included seven China Coast Guard (CCG) and seven People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships spotted in Bajo de Masinloc. Additionally, four CCG and two PLAN ships were sighted in Ayungin Shoal, one PLAN ship was monitored in Sabina Shoal, and one CCG vessel along with one PLAN warship was seen near Pag-asa Island, totaling 23 ships.

Trinidad explained that their monitoring from July 19 to 21 showed the CCG and PLAN ships in Bajo de Masinloc had to secure due to inclement weather. The Philippines has been involved in a prolonged territorial dispute with China over sections of the resource-rich South China Sea (SCS), referred to by Manila as the WPS.

In 2016, the Philippines achieved a significant legal victory against China’s expansive claims in the SCS at an arbitration tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands. However, China does not recognize the ruling and continues to maintain its presence in the WPS.

Despite these developments, Trinidad emphasized that the Philippine military remains steadfast against the assertive actions of the Chinese Communist Party in the WPS. He asserted that the Armed Forces of the Philippines will continue to uphold their duty of securing national territory and safeguarding sovereignty and sovereign rights.