Forty-nine Chinese vessels were monitored in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in June, the highest number so far this year, the Philippine military said Tuesday.

The vessels reached ''across key areas including Bajo de Masinloc, Ayungin Shoal and Pag-Asa Island, '' it added.

''Regardless of these numbers, the Philippine Navy remains fully on top of this situation, demonstrating heightened continued vigilance and sustained presence in our maritime domain,'' said Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, spokespeerson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in a press briefing.

Last January, only 11 Chinese vessels were sighted.

Philippine Navy Spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinand said in June, the Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spotted 14 People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships and nine Chine Coast Guard (CCG) vessels at Bajo de Masinloc, 2 PLAN ships and 12 CCG vessels at Ayungin Shoal, and 19 PLAN warships and nine CCG vessels at Pag-asa Island.

Trinidad said that the Chinese vessels were in and out of the West Philippine Sea features.

"Regardless of these numbers, the PN remains fully on top of the situation, demonstrating continued heightened vigilance and sustained presence in our maritime domain," Trinidad said.

In a press release, the Navy confirmed that an average of 29 CCG and PLAN vessels were observed monthly, with the 49 vessels monitored in June the highest number recorded.

Despite the increased number of Chinese vessels monitored, the Armed Forces of the Philippines assured the public of its 'continued commitment to asserting the nation's rights and maintaining peace and stability in the region'.

An average of 15,000 domestic and foreign vessels were tracked and monitored each month within the country's exclusive economic zone (ECZ). Velle White/DMS