“On 9 March 2023, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) conducted a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight over key areas in the West Philippine Sea, where vessels from the Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) have been previously reported.
The mission’s goal was to monitor the presence of a significant number of foreign vessels, including those linked to the CMM, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG), over Pag-asa Island, Ayungin Shoal, and Sabina Shoal.
During the flight, the PCG observed a reduced number of CMM vessels around Pag-asa Island, with numbers dropping to fifteen (15) compared to forty-two (42) from the previous week. Despite this, a PLA Navy Jiangdao Class warship and CCG vessel 5203 remained within Pag-asa’s twelve (12)-nautical mile territorial sea.
Similarly, at Ayungin Shoal, CCG vessel 5304 maintained its proximity of roughly six (6) nautical miles to the Philippine Navy’s BRP Sierra Madre. Sabina Shoal also saw fewer CMM vessels, dropping to seventeen (17) from the twenty-six (26) observed two weeks ago.
Additionally, the PCG received seven (7) radio challenges from CCG vessels—four (4) near Pag-asa Island and three (3) over Ayungin Shoal.
A complete report on the MDA flight will be endorsed to the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea for review and analysis.
The PCG is coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Command (AFP-WESCOM) and the Area Task Force (ATF-WEST) for a unified response to the situation in these areas. The PCG also emphasized the importance of adhering to international laws to maintain peace and stability in the region. Despite challenges, PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu assured the public that the PCG remains committed to protecting the nation’s sovereignty and interests.”