The number of suspected Chinese maritime militia and coast guard vessels in Scarborough Shoal sharply decreased. while all of Beijing’s warships also left after the trip of a civilian convoy there, according to the Philippine Navy data released on Tuesday. Only 19 Chinese ships were spotted around Panatag Shoal from May 21 to 27, including five China Coast Guard vessels and 14 Chinese maritime militia vessels (CMMV). No People’s Liberation Army-Navy warships were monitored this time.
This total was a sharp decrease from May 14 to 20, when there were a total of 55 Chinese ships in the shoal, including nine China Coast Guard vessels, four People’s Liberation Army-Navy warships, and 42 Chinese maritime militia vessels. The civilian convoy of Atin Ito to the atoll began on May 15 and lasted until May 17. It aimed to distribute supplies to Filipino fishermen and assert the Philippines’ rights to the disputed waterway.
28 май 2024