China deploys more than 40 ships near Philippine island of Pag-Asa.

According to information published by the Philippine State on March 8, 2023, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel stationed in Pag-asa Island reported the presence of a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA) Navy vessel, China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5203, and forty-two (42) suspected Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels anchored in the vicinity of Pag-asa Island.
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Chinese warship spotted near the Philippine island of Pag-Asa; it could be a Type 056 corvette. (Picture source: Philippine Coast Guard)

These Chinese vessels are estimated to have a distance of approximately 4.5 to 8 nautical miles from Pag-asa Island, clearly inside the land feature’s 12 nautical mile territorial sea.

The PLA Navy vessel and CCG 5203 have been observed to be slowly loitering within the surrounding waters of Pag-asa Island with a distance of 8 NM and 4 NM, respectively.

Fourteen (14) suspected CMM vessels are anchored within the vicinity of Pag-asa Cay 3 with an estimated distance of 4 NM West of Pag-asa Island, while the other twenty-eight (28) suspected CMM Vessels are monitored to be within the area of Pag-asa Cay 4.

Pag-asa Island is the largest island in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) serving as the seat of the local government of the Municipality of Kalayaan, Province of Palawan.

It is estimated that more than 400 civilian locals – including some 70 children – call the island home together with stationed Military, Law Enforcement, and civilian government personnel.

Based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, the observed location of the Chinese vessels fall squarely within Pag-asa Island's 12 NM territorial sea.

Comments

According to our observations, the ship deployed by the China People's Liberation Army Navy could be a Type 056 corvette, but the degree of certainty is low.