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HE Philippines and Australia confirmed Wednesday they are discussing possible joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) – an arrangement that Manila is also exploring with the United States and Japan.Deputy

SHARED SECURITY CONCERN. Australia Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles (left) and Philippine Secretary of Defense Carlito Galvez Jr attend a joint press conference at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on February 22, 2023 where they announced both countries are exploring the possibility of joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea. (Inset) According to the Philippine Coast Guard, some 26 suspected Chinese militia and coast guard vessels were spotted near Ayungin Shoal in the WPS. AFP, Philippine Coast Guard

AT LEAST 26 suspected Chinese maritime militia and coast guard vessels were spotted by a local airship flying near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Wednesday.

PCG spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said photos from its Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight confirmed the continued presence of the Chinese ships within the country’s maritime domain.

The PCG also received radio challenges both in English and Chinese from the Chinese Coast Guard when its MDA aircraft entered Sabina Shoal’s airspace, Tarriela added.

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