Chinese Coast Guard patrols around Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) reached record levels during the first half of 2026, according to the Asian Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI).

As this developed, hundreds of Filipino fisherfolk sailed into the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Saturday to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the landmark arbitral ruling and reaffirm the country’s maritime claims.

Using Automatic Identification System data from 1 January to 30 June, AMTI said Chinese Coast Guard vessels accumulated 933 ship-days around Bajo de Masinloc in just six months — nearly matching the 1,099 ship-days recorded throughout 2025.

Last year’s total had already more than doubled the 516 ship-days logged in 2024.

The report said Chinese patrols averaged 156 ship-days a month during the first half of the year, compared with 90 ship-days during the same period in 2025, peaking at 216 ship-days in May.

AMTI said China has expanded its maritime presence by deploying multiple Coast Guard vessels to maintain a perimeter about 30 nautical miles from the shoal, while six to eight Chinese maritime militia vessels maintained a near-continuous presence closer to the feature.

Some Coast Guard ships also patrolled along — and at times beyond — China’s self-declared nine-dash line to intercept Philippine vessels bound for the disputed shoal.

Although Philippine maritime patrols also increased, they remained significantly lower. The Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources averaged 43 ship-days a month during the period, up 43 percent from the same period last year.

The heightened activity resulted in 112 documented encounters between Chinese and Philippine vessels, including a 27 May incident involving Chinese Coast Guard vessel CCG 21563 and the Philippine vessel BRP Datu Pagbuaya.

AMTI also cited China’s growing use of floating installations in the area.

A floating platform discovered inside the shoal’s lagoon in May prompted the Philippines to file a diplomatic protest, although Beijing described it as a temporary ecological research facility.

While the platform was removed in June, AMTI said several Chinese floating objects remain around the disputed feature.

Amid the report, about 250 fisherfolk from Zambales aboard nearly 80 fishing boats sailed into the West Philippine Sea under the Atin Ito Coalition, forming a giant Philippine flag and the words “WPS, ATIN ITO!” to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 2016 arbitral ruling.

“As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of our historic victory, we once again reaffirm our commitment to our beloved West Philippine Sea,” said Leonardo “Ka Nards” Cuaresma, president of the New Masinloc Fishermen Association.