China ship presence in PH waters hits record high in June – Navy

TENSION AT SEA The Philippine Coast Guard challenges the presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels at Rozul (Iroquois) reef in the West Philippine Sea on June 18, 2025 but the PCG’s radio messages went unanswered.

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy reported a total of 49 Chinese ships in Philippine waters in June, the highest number in the first six months of the year.

Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday that the 49 Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) vessels were monitored at Bajo de Masinloc, Ayungin Shoal, and Pag-Asa Island from June 1 to June 30.

“These 49 ships were not there all the time, but they were in and out of the different features,” he added.

In Bajo de Masinloc, nine CCG and 14 PLA-N ships were recorded. Ayungin Shoal saw the presence of 12 CCG and two PLA-N vessels, while nine CCG and three PLA-N ships were spotted near Pag-asa Island.

“As it is right now, we have no direct reference on the tactical implications of bakit tumaas (why it increased to) 49 from last month’s number of 41,” said Trinidad.

READ: 41 Chinese vessels seen in various parts of West Philippine Sea in May

He added that a total of 31 ships were recorded in April, 35 in March, 9 in February and 11 in January.

Asked about the cause of the uptick in numbers, the spokesperson said that possible factors include the “weather, the deployment cycle, maintenance and repair.” /das