AFP monitors 31 Chinese naval and coast guard vessels in West Philippine Sea

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 21, 2026

Photo Courtesy: The Maritime Review

The Philippine Navy monitored 31 Chinese naval and coast guard vessels across four strategic areas of the West Philippine Sea from October 13 to 19, marking an increase from the 27 vessels recorded during the previous week.

The latest count included 23 China Coast Guard vessels and eight warships from the People’s Liberation Army Navy, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad.

Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Panatag or Scarborough Shoal, recorded the largest concentration, with 16 Chinese vessels comprising 13 coast guard ships and three naval warships.

At Ayungin Shoal, six China Coast Guard vessels were monitored, with no Chinese naval warships recorded during the period.

The Navy also detected two Chinese naval vessels near Escoda Shoal, while seven Chinese vessels, including four coast guard ships and three naval warships, were monitored around Pag-asa Island.

The increase comes amid continuing tensions between Manila and Beijing over competing claims in the South China Sea. The Philippines maintains that its rights over the relevant maritime areas are protected under international law, while China continues to assert extensive claims over the disputed waters.

Bajo de Masinloc remains an important fishing ground for Filipino fishers and is located about 220 kilometers west of Luzon. Ayungin Shoal, meanwhile, is the site of the grounded BRP Sierra Madre, which serves as a Philippine military outpost. Escoda Shoal lies west of Palawan, while Pag-asa Island hosts a civilian community and is among the Philippines-held features in the Kalayaan Island Group.

The 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea dispute rejected the legal basis of China’s sweeping historic-rights claims within the so-called nine-dash line. Beijing has refused to accept the ruling.

The AFP continues to monitor foreign vessel movements in the West Philippine Sea as the Philippines maintains its maritime presence and asserts its sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the area.