Chinese Coast Guard and Navy vessels operating near key maritime features in the West Philippine Sea nearly doubled to 101 in September, raising fresh security concerns over Beijing’s expanding footprint within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
Rear Admiral (res.) Roy Vincent Trinidad, the military spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, confirmed that 101 Chinese state vessels were tracked across four strategic features throughout last month, up from 56 total vessels recorded in August.
Oversight reports indicate that Scarborough Shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc, recorded the highest concentration of Chinese maritime assets, with 25 Coast Guard vessels and 14 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy warships monitored in its immediate perimeter.
Defense deployments were also tracked near Philippine-occupied territory, where Chinese forces maintained a persistent naval and maritime law enforcement presence.
” For Pag-asa Island, 23 different Coast Guard vessels and five different PLA Navy warships,” Trinidad said.
He also said 14 Chinese Coast Guard and nine Chinese Navy warships were monitored at Ayungin Shoal throughout the same period.
In addition, military surveillance logs recorded seven Chinese Coast Guard ships and four Chinese Navy warships operating around the unoccupied Escoda Shoal during September.
” From 01 to 31 August, we monitored 56 different vessels from the PLA Navy and the China Coast Guard across the same features…. So, this almost doubled to 101 for the month of September,” Trinidad said.
Military officials emphasized that the sharp increase in foreign vessels highlights an escalating pattern of coercive tactics intended to project dominance over sovereign Philippine waters.
Trinidad said the figures reflect China’s continued illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive activities, which he said undermine rules-based international order.
He also said such activities challenge the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction within its maritime domain.
” Such actions contribute to regional tensions and highlight the importance of continued vigilance and adherence to international law,” Trinidad said.
He also said the Armed Forces of the Philippines remains steadfast in accomplishing its mandate of safeguarding Philippine interests in the West Philippine Sea.
” Through sustained operational presence, enhanced maritime domain awareness, strengthened inter-agency coordination, and continued capability development, the AFP remains committed to protecting national sovereignty, upholding maritime security, and promoting peace, stability, and the rule of law in the West Philippine Sea,” Trinidad said.