41 Chinese warships, CG vessels monitored in WPS in May

A total of 41 Chinese warships and Coast Guard vessels were monitored in various features of the West Philippine Sea in May 2025.

Specifically, 15 China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and 11 People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships were observed at Bajo de Masinloc.

Ayungin Shoal saw six CCG vessels and one PLAN ship, while Pagasa Island had four CCG vessels and four PLAN ships.

During the same month, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) detected 15,765 vessels nationwide, with 12,608 identified as foreign.

The AFP noted that 1,349 vessels did not respond to radio challenges, with the majority of these incidents occurring near Pagasa, Tubbataha, and Ayungin Shoal.

These observations come amidst ongoing tensions as China asserts claims over nearly all of the South China Sea, including areas recognized as part of Philippine territory and officially designated as the West Philippine Sea.