The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) successfully tracked over 18,000 vessels across the country’s maritime domain in August 2026, including dozens of Chinese military and coast guard ships deployed across strategic features in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In a statement released by Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, naval monitoring recorded a total of 18,534 vessels operating within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and other areas of interest from August 1 to 31.
The tracked vessels comprised 2,545 domestic ships and 15,989 foreign-flagged craft. Standard radio challenges issued during domain awareness operations yielded mixed results with 12,502 vessels responded, while 6,032 failed or refused to answer.
Naval officials emphasized that routine radio challenging is a critical component of the country’s maritime domain awareness strategy, allowing forces to detect, identify and assess potential foreign intruders or non-compliant ships entering sovereign waters.
Within the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Navy documented a total of 56 vessels belonging to the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) and the China Coast Guard (CCG) deployed near four key maritime features:
- Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal): 23 vessels (9 PLA-N, 14 CCG)
- Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal: 18 vessels (1 PLA-N, 17 CCG)
- Escoda (Sabina) Shoal: 9 vessels (4 PLA-N, 5 CCG)
- Pag-asa (Thitu) Island: 6 vessels (1 PLA-N, 5 CCG)
Radm. Trinidad noted that the ongoing presence of Chinese state vessels underscores Beijing’s continued conduct of Illegal, Coercive, Aggressive and Deceptive (ICAD) activities. He stated that these actions directly undermine the rules-based international order, challenge the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction and contribute to ongoing instability across the region.
Despite the security challenges and persistent foreign deployments, Trinidad reaffirmed that the military and the navy remain resolute in executing their primary mandate.
“The Navy and the AFP remain steadfast in fulfilling their mandate to safeguard the nation’s maritime interests through sustained operational presence, enhanced maritime domain awareness, strengthened inter-agency coordination, and continued capability development,” the statement read, reinforcing the military’s pledge to protect national sovereignty while upholding international law and promoting regional peace.