PH Navy: 19 Chinese warships spotted in West PH Sea in November 2025

The Philippine Navy said Tuesday a total of 19 People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships of China were monitored over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in the entire month of November.

"Monitored also was a total of 19 different PLA-N warships across various maritime zones of the country," Philippine Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a statement.

"These monitoring efforts reflect the Navy's continuous maritime domain awareness, presence operations, and commitment to safeguarding territory, sovereignty and sovereign rights," he added.

Last week, the Philippine Navy reported a total of 30 China Coast Guard (CCG) and PLAN ships in some key features of the West Philippine Sea as of November 24.

It counted six PLAN warships in Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, Ayungin Shoal, and Escoda Shoal. On the other hand, 24 CCG ships were spotted in these shoals and Pagasa Island as well.

According to Trinidad, the Philippine Navy monitored 14,972 vessels across the entire archipelago last November. 

Of the total number of ships, 12,450 were foreign vessels and 2,522 were domestic. 

Meanwhile, 13,190 vessels responded to radio challenges while 1,781 others did not, Trinidad said.

Most of the vessels were observed in the northern part of the county with 6,898, followed by the southern part with 5,120, western part with 2,259, and eastern part with 695.

"The AFP remains resolute in upholding international law, protecting national interests, and sustaining a credible and disciplined presence across all key maritime areas of the archipelago," Trinidad said.

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

China has refused to recognize the decision. — VDV, GMA Integrated News