AFP monitors 80 Chinese vessels in West Philippine Sea in October

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) monitored 80 Chinese naval and coast guard vessels across four key maritime features in the West Philippine Sea in October 2026, down from 101 recorded the previous month.

In a report released Tuesday, 3 November 2026, the AFP said the Philippine Navy recorded 33 People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels and 47 China Coast Guard (CCG) ships between 1 and 31 October.

Bajo de Masinloc recorded the largest Chinese presence, with 41 vessels consisting of 11 PLAN ships and 30 CCG vessels.

At Ayungin Shoal, authorities monitored 24 Chinese vessels, including 13 naval ships and 11 coast guard vessels.

Another 11 vessels were recorded at Escoda Shoal, comprising eight PLAN ships and three CCG vessels, while four were monitored near the Pag-asa Islands, including one naval ship and three coast guard vessels.

The AFP said the continued presence of Chinese vessels raised concerns over maritime security and the Philippines' sovereign rights.

“These figures underscore the continued conduct of ICAD activities that undermine the rules-based international order and challenge the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction within its maritime domain. Such actions contribute to regional tensions and highlight the importance of continued vigilance and adherence to international law,” the AFP said.

Over 19,000 vessels monitored

Separately, the AFP reported that the Philippine Navy monitored 19,051 domestic and foreign vessels across its broader maritime areas of interest during October.

Of the total, 3,585 were domestic vessels, while 15,466 were foreign vessels.

The military said 14,054 vessels responded to radio challenges, while 4,997 did not.

According to the AFP, the monitoring and radio challenge procedures help authorities identify maritime traffic, assess potential threats and maintain awareness of activities within Philippine waters.

The military emphasized that sustained maritime patrols and interagency coordination remain essential to protecting the country's maritime interests.

“Despite these developments, the Philippine Navy and the AFP remained steadfast in fulfilling their mandate to safeguard the nation's maritime interests. Through sustained operational presence, enhanced maritime domain awareness, strengthened inter-agency coordination, and continued capability development, the AFP remains committed to protecting national sovereignty, upholding maritime security, and promoting peace, stability, and the rule of law in the West Philippine Sea,” the AFP said.

China continues to assert expansive claims over the South China Sea despite a 2016 international arbitral ruling that rejected the legal basis for its historic rights claims within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

Beijing has refused to recognize the ruling.