The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it will step up patrol operations in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea in the coming months following a recent encounter involving a Philippine Navy vessel and Chinese warships.
AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral (ret.) Roy Vincent Trinidad said additional unilateral and joint patrols are being lined up after the BRP Diego Silang conducted a recent mission near Bajo de Masinloc, the Philippine name for Scarborough Shoal.
During the patrol last week, the Navy vessel was reportedly shadowed by four Chinese warships while operating in the area, which lies about 124 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales and falls within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Trinidad said the Philippine ship carried reference to the 2016 Arbitral Award, which invalidated China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea and affirmed Manila’s sovereign rights within its EEZ.
“She was armed with the Arbitral Tribunal ruling of 2016,” Trinidad said, referring to the patrol conducted by BRP Diego Silang.
He added that the Chinese vessels, identified as belonging to the People’s Liberation Army Navy, maintained presence in the area but did not escalate the situation.
“The patrol was successfully conducted,” Trinidad said, noting that the Philippine ship issued challenges and reiterated that foreign vessels had no legal basis to operate in Philippine waters under international law.
“You can expect more unilateral patrols and bilateral and multilateral activities close to Bajo de Masinloc in the coming months,” he added.
Despite the encounter, the AFP said there was no hostile action during the incident, adding that the Chinese vessels did not activate fire control systems or escalate their posture.
Trinidad said the military has sufficient naval assets to sustain operations in the area, citing improvements in sensor capability and operational reach.
“They are more capable, they have greater reach, more effective sensors, and we are capable of conducting these patrols and multilateral activities,” he said.
The AFP said the continued patrols are part of broader efforts to assert maritime rights and maintain a regular presence in contested areas of the West Philippine Sea.