China’s ships have returned to the West Philippines Sea (WPS) shortly after it sought refuge from the onslaught of severe tropical storm Enteng last week, a maritime security expert said on Sunday.
Ray Powell, Director of Sealight and a WPS monitor, indicated on X that Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking detected at least six Qiong Sansha Yu maritime militia ships and one coast guard vessel moving from Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef) to Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) over the weekend.
All the said ships were traveling with a speed of 9-10 knots, according to Powell.
Prior to the typhoon, a record 203 Chinese ships were recorded in the WPS from August 27 to September 2—marking the highest concentration of vessels in the area this year. More than a quarter of these ships were stationed at Escoda Shoal, which is becoming a new hotspot between Manila and Beijing.
Powell had earlier reported that six other Chinese maritime militia ships had withdrawn from Bajo de Masinloc before the storm hit. Meanwhile, a 111-meter Chinese Coast Guard ship, identified by bow number 3305, remained at the reef throughout the typhoon.
At Escoda Shoal, which has recently seen increased Chinese activity, over 20 Chinese vessels have surrounded a solitary Philippine Coast Guard ship, the BRP Teresa Magbanua.
Additionally, a Chinese Coast Guard ship was observed at Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal), where the Philippine Navy’s aging BRP Sierra Madre is grounded.
Powell also noted that China has been actively antagonizing the exclusive economic zones of Malaysia and Vietnam with its naval deployments.
Tensions have escalated between China and the Philippines, with both nations accusing each other of deliberately ramming their coast guard ships near Escoda Shoal.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela reported that this collision was the fifth incident of Chinese maritime harassment in August.
On Sunday, Tarriela lambasted China’s news site reports on its internet ranking around the globe.
“Global Times should refrain from boasting about this data,” Tarriela said referring to its report that China tops as the most internet users with 1.1 billion users.
“As having the world’s largest netizen population in China, with nearly 1.1 billion internet users, does not alter the reality that website’s content is heavily regulated in your country.” He continued adding that the Chinese Communist Party uses the internet as a tool to disseminate fake news and misinformation to brainwash its citizens.
“This data simply emphasizes how the internet has become an effective means for the CCP to restrict and deny the freedoms of the Chinese people.” He said.
