Fifteen chinese warships and 20 coast guard boats were monitored in the west philippine sea from may 4 to 11. The armed forces of the philippines tracked their movements across four key areas.
The philippine navy spotted the highest concentration near panatag shoal, with eight people's liberation army navy warships and nine china coast guard vessels. Three military ships and three coast guard boats appeared near pag-asa island, while smaller numbers were recorded at escoda shoal and ayungin shoal.
In april, the armed forces had counted 62 such vessels across the same locations. Officials described the ongoing presence as part of illegal and coercive activities inside the philippines' exclusive economic zone.
Retired rear admiral roy vincent trinidad stated that the armed forces would continue patrols by sea and air. He noted no aggressive chinese actions during recent balikatan exercises, only repeated narratives from china about conducting its own drills.