West PH Sea: Navy monitors over 60 Chinese vessels in February
The Philippine Navy reported monitoring over 60 Chinese vessels, including naval and coast guard ships, in the West Philippine Sea throughout February, with a significant presence noted near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.
The Philippine Navy reported monitoring 62 Chinese vessels, including People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships and China Coast Guard (CCG) ships, across key features in the West Philippine Sea throughout February 2026. Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad disclosed these figures on March 3, 2026, describing the presence as a 'continued illegal CCP presence' in areas where the Philippines exercises sovereignty and rights. The monitoring covered the period from February 1 to 28, 2026, with the vessels distributed across four strategic locations: 23 vessels at Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) consisting of 11 PLAN and 12 CCG ships; 17 vessels at Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) with 2 PLAN and 15 CCG; 13 vessels at Escoda Shoal (Sandy Cay) including 6 PLAN and 7 CCG; and 9 vessels at Pagasa Island (Thitu Island) with 5 PLAN and 4 CCG.
During the same period, the Philippine Navy tracked a total of 18,360 vessels nationwide, with most responding to radio challenges. The significant Chinese presence occurred amid ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, which the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea. This monitoring aligns with the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that favored the Philippines' claims, a ruling that China continues to reject. Beijing claims nearly all of the strategic waterway, which sees approximately $3 trillion in annual trade.
Specific incidents during February included Chinese coast guard vessels harassing the Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Datu Sanday while it was supplying fuel to fishermen near Scarborough Shoal between February 22-25, with three vessels approaching within 100 meters. Similar blocking maneuvers occurred against BRP Teresa Magbanua. Additionally, from February 23-26, a Chinese PLA Navy vessel (bow number 174) was illegally observed near the Bashi Channel during the 15th Maritime Cooperative Activity drills involving the Philippines, US, and Japan; it remained within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone but did not interfere with the exercises.
In late February, China's 'monster ship' (CCG 5901), the world's largest coast guard cutter at 12,000 tons, passed 40 nautical miles off Itbayat, Batanes—marking its first appearance in the West Philippine Sea in nearly a year after minimal activity in 2025. The Philippine Navy also confirmed on February 24 that nine Chinese vessels were illegally loitering at Bajo de Masinloc, with nine more at other key features, while denying claims of a Chinese military base being established there. These developments highlight the ongoing maritime tensions and the Philippines' continued monitoring efforts in disputed waters.
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