Chinese vessels swarm Pag-asa Island, Philippine Navy confirms

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy confirmed yesterday that dozens of Chinese military, coast guard and maritime militia vessels continue to swarm and stay in Subi Reef near Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) which China, through a man-made artificial island, has turned into a fully operational naval base.

Former United States Air Force official and former defense attaché Ray Powell, in several posts on X yesterday, said some 83 Chinese vessels have been monitored in the vicinity.

Philippine Navy spokesman for the WPS, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said such count is “fairly accurate” considering how China uses Subi Reef located within the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island as some sort of pier where its ships, boats and militia come and go.

“Those numbers (are) fairly accurate because it’s near Pag-asa. If they sail past Subi that is also the sea area of Pag-asa,” he told dzBB in an interview yesterday.

He however noted that Powell’s count covers a particular time and a particular place while the Philippine Navy looks and monitors the entire expanse of the WPS and now releases monthly reports.

“We are seeing many clustering of maritime militia near Pag-asa at Subi Reef and near Ayungin at Mischief Reef because that is enclosed haven, enclosed marina, that’s their safe harbor so there’s a concentration of maritime militia with PLA Navy and Chinese Coast Guard,” he said in Filipino.

Trinidad said Subi Reef, which China developed and occupied in 2012, is a “parking area” of Chinese maritime militia boats disguised as fishing vessels that sometimes reach 150 to 200 in number.

“Actually, this is not OK as the minute they enter our territory then that’s illegal presence... They developed Subi Reef over the past years into an enclosed marina and harbor,” he explained.

Asked if the Philippines would ever be able to reclaim Subi Reef, Trinidad said “it would take more than military” solution, but rather depends on “higher levels of government.”

For quite a time now, he said Subi Reef has become off limits to the country’s vessels since China reclaimed and turned it into a naval base.

Trinidad said the Philippine Navy, however, continues to document everything and submit reports to proper government authorities for the appropriate action including providing information to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

According to him, Subi Reef currently has a runway, ports and harbors, storage facilities, communications equipment and radar domes – a fully operational Chinese naval base.

Meanwhile, the chief of staff of Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force is now in Manila for a courtesy visit as part of continuing efforts to strengthen relations with the Philippines.

Gen. Uchikura Hiroaki met with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. yesterday to discuss various matters of mutual concern.

AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said Brawner, accompanied by other top military officials, personally welcomed Uchikura in Camp Aguinaldo.

During the visit, Brawner expressed gratitude for Japan’s steadfast support to the Philippines through capacity-building initiatives and humanitarian assistance.

Trinidad said both military leaders also committed to foster mutual understanding and shared defense goals for the benefit of their nations.

“The meeting reflects the AFP’s effort to deepen engagements and strategic cooperation with like-minded nations, advancing shared commitment to a free and stable Indo-Pacific region,” he said.

Dredger update

Two Filipinos were among the crew members of a Chinese dredger ship flagged by authorities for carrying undocumented Chinese workers, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported.

In a statement Wednesday, the agency said it “apprehended 16 individuals, including 13 Chinese nationals, two Filipino crew members, and one Chinese agent onboard the dredger vessel Harvest 89 at the vicinity of Cabcaben, Mariveles, Bataan, on 26 November 2024.”

However, the PCG did not reveal the identity of the Filipinos collared by the PCG, as well as the Chinese agent who “informed (the PCG substation in Limay town, Bataan) that boarding the vessel was unnecessary, as all required documents were allegedly complete.”

In his previous statement, PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela, the agency’s spokesman on matters in the West Philippine Sea, provided the names of the 13 illegal Chinese workers who were all without documents.

PCG personnel who inspected the dredger also discovered “a military-style uniform, resembling those worn by the People’s Liberation Army, (which raised) security concerns.”

The 16 arrested by the PCG were all brought to the Coast Guard detention facility in Taguig, the agency said.

It added the 13 Chinese “will be charged under Commonwealth Act No. 613, or The Philippine Immigration Act, specifically Section 37 E.” –  Ghio Ong