20 CHINESE SHIPS SPOTTED MOVING AROUND WPS TERRITORIES

MANILA, Philippines: China's maritime militia conducted a major rotation in the West Philippine Sea covered by the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Friday morning.

Retired United States Air Force Col. Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a maritime transparency project that monitors and reports activities in the South China Sea, said at least 20 large Qiong Sansha Yu ships moved south.

Powell said based on the automatic identification system (AIS), two groups of eight headed to the Spratly Islands while a group of four moved southeast and headed toward the recently crowded Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) where a Philippine research vessel, BRP Hydrographer Ventura, conducted a hydrographic survey.

After wrapping up its activity off Bajo de Masinloc on Thursday, BRP-H Ventura headed toward Pag-asa (Thitu) Island where 16 large Qiong Sansha Yu maritime militia ships will also be arriving, said Powell.

China Coast Guard (CCG) 5303 has again intercepted and shadowed BRP-H Ventura and its Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) escort ship BRP Gabriela Silang as they moved southwest toward the Pag-asa Island in the Kalayaan Municipality.

It is believed that BRP-H Ventura will supplant the previous marine scientific research done in the Pag-asa cays that were disturbed by Chinese forces previously.

Throughout its mission in Bajo de Masinloc, BRP-H Ventura was closely watched by CCG 5303.

Meanwhile, in Makati City, leaders of various youth organizations staged a protest rally in front of the offices of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines Friday morning.

The Alyansa Bantay Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD) strongly condemned the aggressive actions of the CCG in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal and voiced their support for the policies and programs of President Ferdinand Marocs Jr. in the West Philippine Sea.

According to Rodolfo "RJ" Villena Jr., ABKD convenor and spokesman, Filipinos should unite and stand up to defend the country's sovereignty.

He said they were also supporting the policies of President Marcos about the sovereignty of the country in the West Philippine Sea.

"China has no right to threaten and harm our soldiers and fishermen who are only insisting on their right to our territory," said Villena.

2024-04-19T09:18:20Z dg43tfdfdgfd