The Philippine Navy has reported a significant maritime presence in contested waters, highlighting ongoing tensions in the region. In a press briefing held at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy's spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, disclosed that a total of 28 Chinese warships and coast guard vessels were detected across four critical features during the monitoring period from April 5 to 12, 2026.
Detailed Breakdown of Vessel Detections
According to the official statement, the monitored areas included Bajo de Masinloc, Ayungin Shoal, Escoda Shoal, and Pag-asa Island. Specifically, at Bajo de Masinloc, ten China Coast Guard vessels were observed. Near Ayungin Shoal, three warships from the People's Liberation Army Navy were spotted alongside six coast guard ships.
Meanwhile, Escoda Shoal saw the presence of one PLAN vessel and three CCG ships, while Pag-asa Island had one Chinese warship and four coast guard vessels in its vicinity. These findings underscore the persistent and unauthorized activities by Chinese maritime forces in these strategic locations.
Comparison with Previous Month's Data
This recent detection follows a much larger incursion recorded in March 2026, when a total of 90 Chinese vessels were documented in the same four key features. Rear Admiral Trinidad provided a detailed breakdown of the March figures, noting that Bajo de Masinloc had 49 vessels, including 17 PLAN and 32 CCG ships.
Pag-asa Island accounted for 15 vessels, with four from the PLAN and 11 from the CCG. Ayungin Shoal saw 14 vessels, comprising four PLAN and ten CCG units, while Escoda Shoal had 12 vessels, split into seven PLAN and five CCG ships.
Trinidad emphasized the ongoing documentation of these activities, stating, "Specific to the West Philippine Sea, we have documented the persistent and unauthorized presence of the PLAN and CCG. For this month, a total of 90 different vessels were monitored across four key features." This statement highlights the Navy's commitment to monitoring and reporting on maritime security issues in the region.
The data reveals a pattern of Chinese naval and coast guard presence in the West Philippine Sea, raising concerns about territorial integrity and regional stability. The Philippine Navy continues to vigilantly track these movements to uphold national sovereignty and inform public awareness.
