Despite increased patrols and the filing of multiple diplomatic protests, some 287 Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels remain scattered all over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the South China Sea, both within and outside the exclusive economic zone or EEZ of the Philippines. National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the government is sustaining the conduct of sovereignty patrols over the country’s territorial waters to monitor and address the continuing incursions. “We reiterate that the Philippines shall continue to defend its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the WPS, and shall not yield an inch of our territory,” Esperon, who also chairs the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), said in a statement released yesterday.

Punongbayan, M., Ramirez, R., Lee-Brago, P., Romero, A., Romero, P., Felipe, C. S., & Porcalla, D. (2021, May 13). The Philippine Star, p. 2.