Manila, March 3 -- The Philippine Navy monitored 34 Chinese naval and coast guard vessels in four key features of the West Philippine Sea from Feb. 22 to March 1, an official said Tuesday.

The figure is higher than the 18 recorded from Feb. 15 to 22, Navy WPS spokesperson Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said at Camp Aguinaldo.

During the period, 12 vessels were spotted in Bajo de Masinloc, seven in Ayungin Shoal, 10 in Escoda Shoal and five off Pag-asa Island.

This can be broken down into three People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships and nine China Coast Guard (CCG) ships in Bajo de Masinloc; one PLAN and six CCG in Ayungin Shoal; four PLAN warships and six CCG vessels in Escoda Shoal, and two PLAN and three CCG in Pag-asa Island.

T...