26 Chinese vessels spotted in West Philippine Sea from June 9-15, 2026 —PH Navy

A total of 26 Chinese vessels were monitored in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from June 9 to 15, 2026, the Philippine Navy said Tuesday.

This number is fewer than the 41 Chinese vessels monitored in WPS from June 2 to 8.

The Philippine Navy said the 26 Chinese vessels spotted June 9 to 15 were in the following areas:

Ayungin Shoal - 3 China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels

Bajo de Masinloc - 3 CCG vessels, 4 People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels

Escoda Shoal - 3 CCG vessels, 2 PLAN vessels

Pag-asa Islands - 3 CCG vessels, 1 PLAN vessel

These resulted in a total of 19 CCG vessels and 7 PLAN vessels, and the overall total is 26 Chinese vessels monitored in WPS for the said period.

PLAN vessels are warships of China’s military navy, operated under the People’s Liberation Army and used for combat, patrol, and other naval operations.

CCG vessels, meanwhile, are government-controlled ships that are not part of the navy but are used for maritime law enforcement activities, including patrols, policing, and asserting presence in disputed waters.

Tensions continue as Beijing asserts sweeping claims over almost the entire South China Sea, a major shipping route handling more than US$3 trillion in annual maritime trade, including waters also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Areas within Philippine jurisdiction in the South China Sea have been renamed by the government as the West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s sovereign claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago, including the Luzon Sea and 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, saying China’s claims had “no legal basis.”

China has rejected and refused to recognize the ruling. —KG, GMA News