Chinese ships still in Ayungin, Panatag

MANILA, Philippines - China continues to assert its claim over the Ayungin and Panatag (Scarborough) Shoals by conducting patrols in the Philippine-owned areas.

A security source who spoke on condition of anonymity said one Chinese vessel has been spotted in the Ayungin Shoal, which is located 105.77 nautical miles from Palawan.

Meanwhile, two Chinese ships were seen around the Panatag Shoal, which is 124 nautical miles from the nearest point in Zambales.

“They are maintaining their presence. We remain observant since we are following the diplomatic track,” the official said.

“We would rather address this through the right body instead of building up tension.”

The official said the Navy continues to monitor the situation in the area but admitted that it can only do so much with its current capability.

“We need to accelerate modernizing the navy so that we can respond to the security requirement of asserting our sovereignty,” the source said.

China has been flexing its muscles in the West Philippine Sea to assert its territorial claims, which the Philippines has described as “excessive” and “exaggerated.”

It started occupying the Panatag Shoal on April 10, 2012, when Chinese surveillance vessels from Beijing barred the Philippine Navy from arresting Chinese fishermen who had poached endangered marine species.

China has reportedly imposed an “exclusion zone” in Panatag Shoal, effectively barring Filipino fishermen from venturing into the area.

Meanwhile, the government filed a diplomatic protest on May 10 against China’s incursion in the Ayungin Shoal, which forms part of the Philippines’ 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

The government said the presence of Chinese vessels in the area violates international law.

China  claims practically the entire West Philippine Sea while the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims in the area.