The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported Monday that it monitored an increase in the number of Chinese Coast Guard and research vessels operating in Philippine waters during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year.
Despite the uptick in coast guard and survey ships, military records showed a corresponding decline in the presence of Chinese Navy warships and maritime militia vessels over the same six-month period.
Speaking at a press briefing, Rear Adm. (Res.) Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, emphasized that the military maintains around-the-clock surveillance of the country’s maritime domain utilizing land-based sensors and in close coordination with government partners, including the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
“What has increased is the number of Coast Guard vessels (and research vessels) for the first sem (semester) of 2026 compared to the first sem of 2025,” Trinidad said, noting that the surge in research and survey vessels was particularly concentrated “up north.”
Trinidad highlighted the contrast in naval deployments between the two periods. “First sem of last year to first sem of this year, (there) has been a decrease in the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) Navy and the maritime militia (vessels),” Trinidad noted, adding that the military is “giving more attention” to the growing presence of research vessels.
Addressing the broader regional context, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela stated that China’s expanding survey activities extend beyond Philippine boundaries.
“The increase of Chinese research vessel here in the Philippines is not only exclusive to us. This is something that is also very concerning for Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and of course even in Taiwan,” Tarriela said.
Meanwhile, Trinidad declined to comment on a proposal by former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio to utilize drones, fast boats and airdrops to resupply Philippine troops stationed at Ayungin Shoal.
“The approaches for conducting the RORE (rotation and reprovisioning) are operational in nature. We do not disclose the details of how we conduct the operations,” Trinidad explained. “Rest assured, the AFP will keep performing its mandate of rotating our troops and reprovisioning them. How we do it, we leave it up to the operational commanders.”