AFP spots 74 Chinese vessels in WPS in June as maritime pressure continues
PHILIPPINES: The Armed Forces of the Philippines has recorded 74 People’s Liberation Army Navy and China Coast Guard vessels operating across four key features in the West Philippine Sea in June, a slight decline from the 82 ships logged in May, but one that AFP says continues to reflect a pattern of illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive maritime activity by China.
AFP spokesperson for the WPS Navy reservist Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, identified the four features as Bajo de Masinloc, Ayungin Shoal, Escoda Shoal, and Pag-asa Islands, breaking down the Chinese vessel presence across each location.
The numbers by location
The largest concentration of Chinese ships was recorded at Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, where 41 vessels were spotted, comprising 16 PLAN and 25 CCG.
Ayungin Shoal, the site of the BRP Sierra Madre and a recurring flashpoint for confrontations over Philippine resupply missions, had 16 vessels, comprising four PLAN and 12 CCG ships.
Escoda Shoal recorded eight vessels (five PLAN and three CCG) while Pag-asa Islands, the largest Philippine-occupied feature in the Spratly Islands, had nine ships, made up of four PLAN and five CCG vessels.
What the AFP says it means
Trinidad framed the figures as evidence of sustained ICAD (illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive) activities that undermine the rules-based international order and violate the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction within its maritime domain.
“These figures underscore the conduct of ICAD activities that undermine the rules-based international order and violate 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 added that the AFP remains committed to safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests through sustained operational presence, enhanced maritime domain awareness, strengthened inter-agency coordination, continued capability development, and the protection of national sovereignty.
A broader picture of maritime monitoring
Beyond the Chinese vessel count, the AFP’s June monitoring figures paint a picture of the sheer scale of maritime traffic flowing through Philippine waters. A total of 20,494 domestic and foreign vessels were monitored during the month, made up of 3,120 domestic and 17,374 foreign, with 14,548 responding to radio challenges and 5,946 not responding. The majority are merchant ships and fishing vessels.
Trinidad described the monitoring and radio challenging procedures as a vital component of the AFP’s maritime domain awareness efforts, enabling the timely detection, identification, and assessment of vessels operating within Philippine waters.
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Why this matters beyond the Philippines
The West Philippine Sea is not just a Philippine concern. The waterway carries an estimated $3 trillion in global trade annually, and China's sustained naval and coast guard presence across features claimed by the Philippines, many of which sit well within Manila's Exclusive Economic Zone as defined under international law, has implications for freedom of navigation and the broader stability of the Indo-Pacific.
For countries with significant maritime trade exposure, including Singapore, the pattern of Chinese vessel deployments documented monthly by the AFP is a barometer of how much pressure the rules-based maritime order is under in one of its most contested stretches of water. A slight month-on-month decline in vessel numbers from 82 to 74 offers little comfort when the underlying posture remains unchanged.
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