PH triples patrols in West Philippine Sea amid tensions with China – NMC

China Coast Guard vessel 3106 is seen during a maritime domain awareness flight of the Philippine Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. — Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines has tripled the coverage of its patrols in the West Philippine Sea as part of efforts to strengthen maritime defense and transparency amid renewed tensions with China, the National Maritime Council (NMC) said Tuesday.

NMC spokesperson Undersecretary Alexander Lopez said during the council’s third-quarter press briefing that the expansion is part of a unified campaign by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to enhance presence and coordination in the country’s maritime zones.

“With our assets deployed, we were able to cover three times more of the West Philippine Sea because of the vessels and aircraft we deployed. We have covered the West Philippine Sea quite abundantly,” Lopez said.

He said the expanded coverage reflects President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s policy of “enhanced transparency” in the West Philippine Sea.

Lopez said the NMC’s Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) operations over the past quarter included 224 surface operations, 43 air patrols, and 56 intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) activities.

Thirteen vessels were deployed for surface operations, including eight from the AFP, eight from the PCG, and 14 from BFAR. They logged a total time at sea of 9,784 hours and covered more than 77,006 nautical miles.

For air patrols, the government deployed five aircraft, including two from the AFP, one from the PCG, and two from BFAR, totaling 245 flight hours.

Lopez noted that ISR operations strengthened the Philippines’ strategic presence in the region.

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Vessels sighted near Zambales

As part of continuing surveillance, the PCG conducted an MDA flight on Tuesday morning over the waters near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea.

China Coast Guard vessel 3106 is seen during a maritime domain awareness flight of the Philippine Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. — Contributed photo

At 9:31 a.m., a PCG Islander 4177 aircraft monitored a China Coast Guard vessel (CCG-3106) and a People’s Liberation Army Navy frigate (PLAN 575) roughly 59 nautical miles from Zambales.

Philippine vessels monitored in the area included the BRP Cape San Agustin (MRRV-4408) and a Jacinto-class Navy ship, which were conducting patrols alongside the foreign vessels.

READ: Marcos takes a swipe at China during Asean summit

‘PH will never yield an inch’

Lopez reaffirmed the government’s firm position that the Philippines “will never yield an inch” of its territory and will continue asserting its sovereign rights in accordance with international law, including the 2016 arbitral award that invalidated China’s sweeping nine-dash line claim.

“Our government’s unyielding position is that the Philippines will never yield an inch of its territory or a drop of its maritime rights, even to a superpower,” Lopez said, referring to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s stance about the West Philippine Sea. /das