(Photo courtesy by PNA)
MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) vowed to sustain and intensify its maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea despite the growing presence of Chinese vessels in the area.
Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the military would continue protecting the country’s sovereignty and sovereign rights while responding to China’s maritime activities.
“Hindi tayo pinanghihinaan ng loob. We will match them hangga’t kaya natin, ship for ship, patrol for patrol,” Trinidad said in an interview with PTV’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Wednesday.
He added that the AFP would also continue countering what he described as misleading narratives surrounding maritime incidents in the West Philippine Sea.
The AFP earlier reported that around 101 Chinese naval and coast guard vessels were monitored in four key areas of the West Philippine Sea in September, more than double the 56 vessels recorded in August.
Trinidad said the higher number of Chinese ships does not mean the Philippines lacks a presence in contested waters.
He noted that incidents involving aggressive or coercive actions against Philippine vessels indicate that Filipino forces remain active in the area.
The AFP, he said, would continue monitoring the country’s maritime domain to determine where Philippine ships and aircraft should be deployed.
“We will keep monitoring them. It will also give us an input kung saan ang ating mga barko at mga eroplano to be able to counter them,” Trinidad said.
The Philippine Coast Guard has also recently stepped up patrols against unauthorized Chinese maritime activities, including the deployment of vessels and aircraft to challenge a Chinese research ship near Batanes.
The government has repeatedly maintained that it will continue asserting Philippine maritime rights in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitral ruling.
