The Philippine Coast Guard said that they spotted at least 26 suspected Chinese maritime militia and coast guard vessels near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

According to the report from the PCG, they obtained the photos from their Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight.

It showed the continued presence of 26 suspected Chinese maritime militia and Chinese Coast Guard that is within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

The Ayungin Shoal is located some 100 nautical miles off Palawan but is likewise near Mischief Reef, an area in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) reportedly occupied by China.

Earlier, the PCG said they had ordered the Chinese Coast Guard 5304 to leave the area after a Chinese and English radio challenge from the Chinese ship.

They said that MDA is being conducted over the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.

Meanwhile, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said the PCG’s Cessna Caravan 2081 flew over Ayungin and Sabina Shoals to observe and conduct radio challenges to Chinese coast guard vessels on Tuesday, February 21.

It approached some 10 nautical miles off Ayungin Shoal to which a radio challenge over China Coast Guard 5304 to leave the area immediately.

In response, the Chinese vessel issued an “unclear” radio challenge but maintained its presence in shoal, unfazed by the challenge from the Philippines.

The PCG aircraft also said that they spotted four Chinese militia vessels that were anchored inside the Ayungin Shoal.

They relayed the situation to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel that were stationed onboard BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) at Ayungin Shoal.

The Chinese coast guard vessel 5205 that was embroiled in a controversy for pointing a “military-grade” laser light at the BRP Malapascua had left the Kalayaan Island Group en route to Hainan, China.