MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed on Tuesday a notable increase in the number of Chinese vessels operating near Batanes, including research ships, maritime militia, and People’s Liberation Army Navy units.
AFP West Philippine Sea spokesman Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the surge coincided with “recent developments between India and the Philippines,” referring to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent visit to New Delhi.
“The AFP will continue performing its mandate despite the increase in foreign warships, the PLA, the Chinese Coast Guard, and militia,” Trinidad said, underscoring the military’s resolve to defend Philippine sovereignty.
The Philippine Navy earlier reported spotting two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels — CCG 3301 and CCG 3304 — “meandering” near Mavulis Island in Batanes on Aug. 7 at around 8 p.m.
The BRP Emilio Jacinto, which was patrolling the area, repeatedly issued radio challenges, but the Chinese vessels did not respond, according to the Navy’s Northern Luzon Command.
Batanes, the country’s northernmost province, lies closer to Taiwan — just 218 kilometers away — than to mainland Luzon.
Rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait have prompted the AFP to prepare for potential “noncombatant evacuation operations,” AFP spokesman Col. Francel Padilla said.
The latest maritime movements follow a sharp exchange between Manila and Beijing.
Marcos recently warned that the Philippines would inevitably be drawn into any China-Taiwan conflict “kicking and screaming.” Beijing responded by accusing the president of “playing with fire.”