As some China ships leave PH EEZ, 146 remain

MANILA, Philippines—More than 80 foreign ships, believed to be part of China’s maritime militia, have moved out of the West Philippine Sea in the past month, an American geospatial imagery firm said.

Simularity said in a report released early this week that it has monitored 88 fewer ships in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) after its July report on sewage from Chinese ships anchored in Spratly Islands.

“There are 71 fewer ships in Union (Pagkakaisa) Banks, 35 fewer ships in Thitu (Pag-asa) Reefs, and 88 fewer ships in the Philippine EEZ overall since our report,” it said.

Ships were no longer anchored in large numbers. And with 71 ships leaving the Union Banks atoll, the amount of human activity and feces dumped by the Chinese in the area had been reduced, Simularity said.

Between June to July 12, there were 234 foreign ships within the Philippine EEZ. From Aug. 1 to 18, there were 146 ships left.

Simularity said it has observed the practice of anchoring multiple ships together in the Spratly Islands since 2019. These were believed to be part of Chinese maritime militia.

Last month, the US firm said these ships were dumping raw sewage in Philippine waters, causing damage on reefs and leaving their unsavory mark in the area.

The Philippine government in March sounded the alarm over the presence of more than 200 Chinese ships anchored on Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef.

It has repeatedly protested China’s continued deployment of vessels in the Philippines’ EEZ, but the protests had been repeatedly ignored by the Chinese government.

TSB