Chinese ships increased in Bajo de Masinloc in 2025 —PCG

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday reported an increased presence of Chinese maritime forces, including warships, around Bajo de Masinloc in 2025 compared to 2024.

In a statement, PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela noted that China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels were also operating progressively closer to the Luzon coastline.

“In our annual report, we noted a higher number of Chinese maritime forces—including the [People’s Liberation Army Navy], China Coast Guard (CCG), and Chinese Maritime Militia—in Bajo De Masinloc last year,” Tarriela said.

“In addition to this overall increase, CCG vessels conducting illegal patrols have been operating progressively closer to the Luzon coast, from Ilocos down to Mindoro,” he added.

Tarriela said that the closest recorded approach was April 8, 2025 when a CCG vessel reached 23 nautical miles from the coast off Dasol, Pangasinan.

According to Tarriela, this marked a shift from 2024 when CCG vessels primarily operated within a 10 to 15 nautical mile radius of Bajo de Masinloc.

“As a direct consequence, Filipino fishermen have been displaced farther from BDM, as CCG vessels have aggressively driven them toward the Luzon coast and away from their traditional fishing grounds,” he said.

Due to this, the PCG significantly extended its presence in the Bajo de Masinloc area.

“On average, PCG vessels spent nearly 27 days per month at sea in the vicinity of BDM, maintaining a sustained presence to prevent the normalization of illegal CCG activities and to protect Filipino fishermen,” Tarriela said.

Bajo de Masinloc is located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, and is considered within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

EXPLAINER: What is Scarborough Shoal and why is it important?

Tensions continue as 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. —VAL, GMA Integrated News