The Philippine Navy on Tuesday reported that a total of 19 People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships were monitored in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) throughout November.
Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the vessels were sighted across multiple maritime zones, underscoring persistent Chinese naval activity in the disputed waters.
“These monitoring efforts reflect the Navy’s continuous maritime domain awareness, presence operations, and commitment to safeguarding our territorial sovereignty and sovereign rights,” Trinidad said.
The latest figures followed an earlier Navy report that said that as of 24 November, a combined 30 China Coast Guard (CCG) and PLAN vessels were positioned near key Philippine-held features.
These included six PLAN ships reportedly operating around Bajo de Masinloc, Ayungin Shoal, and Escoda Shoal, while 24 CCG vessels were also deployed in those areas and near Pag-asa Island.
The Navy said it tracked 14,972 maritime vessels nationwide in November, comprising 12,450 foreign and 2,522 domestic ships. A total of 13,190 vessels responded to radio challenges, while 1,781 did not.
Most vessel movements were recorded in northern Philippine waters, with 6,898 monitored in the area. The southern region logged 5,120 vessels, followed by 2,259 in the western sector, and 695 in the eastern.
“The AFP remains resolute in upholding the law, protecting the national interest, and sustaining a credible and disciplined presence across all key maritime areas of the archipelago,” Trinidad said.