MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) monitored 44 Chinese vessels in four key features of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from June 23 to 29, a sharp increase from the 17 vessels recorded during the previous monitoring period.

AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Navy reservist Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said the vessels were observed near Ayungin Shoal, Bajo de Masinloc, Escoda Shoal and the Pag-asa Islands.

According to the AFP, eight China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and one People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ship were monitored at Ayungin Shoal.

At Bajo de Masinloc, the military detected 18 CCG vessels and nine PLAN warships.

Two CCG vessels and two PLAN ships were monitored at Escoda Shoal, while one CCG vessel and three PLAN ships were sighted near the Pag-asa Islands.

The latest monitoring showed a significant increase from the 17 Chinese vessels recorded from June 16 to 22.

The AFP had earlier attributed the lower number of monitored Chinese vessels during the previous period to unfavorable weather conditions.