The Philippine Navy reported a significant increase in the number of Chinese vessels sighted in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in June, marking the highest count so far this year.
At a media briefing, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy’s spokesperson for WPS matters, said a total of 49 Chinese ships were observed moving in and out of key maritime features including Bajo de Masinloc, Ayungin Shoal, and Pagasa Island.
Specifically, 23 ships (including 9 China Coast Guard and 14 PLA Navy vessels) were seen near Bajo de Masinloc; 14 near Ayungin Shoal (12 CCG and 2 PLA Navy); and 12 near Pagasa Island (9 CCG and 3 PLA Navy).
Trinidad clarified that these vessels weren’t stationed in the area continuously, but appeared intermittently throughout the month.
June’s total surpasses previous monthly figures, with 11 vessels in January, 9 in February, 35 in March, 31 in April, and 41 in May.
The Navy has yet to determine the tactical reason behind the surge. “It could be due to weather, deployment cycles, or maintenance schedules,” Trinidad explained.
Despite the uptick in foreign presence, Trinidad assured the public that the Armed Forces of the Philippines remains vigilant, enhancing maritime domain awareness and inter-agency coordination to uphold the country’s sovereignty.
The WPS is a part of the broader South China Sea, which China claims nearly in its entirety—an assertion rejected by the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines, declaring China’s expansive claims legally baseless—though Beijing continues to ignore the ruling.