This week, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported the tracking of 26 Chinese vessels in the contested West Philippine Sea. The military's findings were based on surveillance conducted from July 21 to 26.
Details on the Monitored Vessels
No other untoward incidents were reported during the said period.
Capt. Marie Angelica Sisican, Philippine Navy Public Affairs Chief
- 4 People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships
- 22 China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels
The largest concentration of these vessels was recorded near Scarborough Shoal, with 13 CCG ships monitored in the area. Scarborough, located roughly 220 kilometers west of Luzon, has been under Chinese control since a standoff in 2012.
Additionally, 9 Chinese vessels were observed at Second Thomas Shoal, including two PLAN warships and seven CCG ships. This shoal is about 194 kilometers west of Palawan.
The Philippine Navy also tracked one CCG vessel at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, situated approximately 195 kilometers west of Palawan, and another near Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, which lies about 528 kilometers west of the province.
China's extensive claims over nearly all of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, continue to be a point of contention. The international community has largely disregarded these claims after a 2016 ruling from an arbitral tribunal that favored the Philippines.