Manila, Sept. 1 -- A total of 56 Chinese warships and coast guard vessels were spotted in four key areas of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in August, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday.

Of these, 41 are China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and 15 are People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships, AFP spokesperson for the WPS, Navy reservist Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, told the Philippine News Agency.

Specifically, 18 vessels (one PLAN, 17 CCG) were monitored in Ayungin Shoal, 23 (nine PLAN, 14 CCG) in Bajo De Masinloc, nine (four PLAN, five CCG) in Escoda Shoal, and six (one PLAN, five CCG) in Pag-asa Islands.

In July, 48 Chinese vessels were monitored.

"These figures underscore the continued conduct of ICAD (...