The Philippine Navy monitored 62 Chinese vessels operating across key features in the West Philippine Sea from February 1 to 28, as maritime activity remained elevated in disputed waters.
In a statement Tuesday, the Navy said the vessels included ships from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) and the China Coast Guard (CCG).
The largest concentration was recorded at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, where 23 vessels were tracked — 11 from the PLA-N and 12 from the CCG. The shoal, located about 220 kilometers west of Luzon and well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), has remained under Beijing’s effective control since a 2012 standoff.
At Ayungin Shoal, 17 vessels were monitored, including 15 CCG ships and two PLA-N vessels. The low-tide elevation lies approximately 194 kilometers off Palawan.
Meanwhile, 13 Chinese ships were observed near Escoda Shoal — seven from the CCG and six from the PLA-N — while nine vessels, composed of five PLA-N and four CCG ships, were sighted near Pag-asa Island, about 528 kilometers west of Palawan.
The Navy said the monitoring formed part of broader maritime domain awareness operations nationwide.
In February alone, authorities tracked 18,360 vessels across Philippine waters. Of these, 13,523 responded to radio challenges, while 4,837 did not reply.
Heightened maritime activity was also observed in Northern Luzon, Western Mindanao, and along the country’s eastern seaboard.
China continues to reject the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling that invalidated its expansive claims in the South China Sea. The Armed Forces of the Philippines reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.
