Chinese ships gather near Scarborough Shoal
RECONNAISSANCE flights on Monday revealed the presence of multiple Chinese vessels, including a warship, coast guard ships and maritime militia vessels near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Monday. PCG spokesman on West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the maritime domain awareness mission was conducted in two sorties, with the first departing from Subic Airport at 8:51 a.m. and the second at 12:28 p.m. During the MDA mission, the PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) documented the presence of a People's Liberation Army Navy warship 27 nautical miles southeast of the shoal. Five China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels with hull numbers 5205, 5201, 5303, 3301, and 5203 were also observed. Additionally, four Chinese maritime militia vessels were documented, with two positioned within the shoal and the others at distances of 2.7 and 8.16 nautical miles southeast of the shoal. The Philippine presence in the area included two PCG vessels, BRP Bagacay and BRP Cabra. Four BFAR vessels, BRP Datu Tamblot, BRP Datu Sumkad, BRP Datu Balinsusa, and BRP Datu Pagbuaya, were also deployed in the area. Twenty-six Filipino fishing boats were present, receiving fuel subsidies from BFAR as part of ongoing government support for local fishermen operating in contested waters. Tarriela confirmed that the Chinese had once again installed a floating barrier in the area, a move that has been repeatedly condemned by Philippine authorities as an unlawful attempt to restrict access to the rich fishing grounds. The barrier, positioned at the southeast entrance of the shoal, is believed to be a measure to prevent Filipino fishing vessels from entering and operating freely in the area. While no direct harassment was reported during this particular mission, Tarriela noted that a Chinese navy helicopter was observed trailing the BFAR aircraft at a distance of three nautical miles. This was a stark contrast to a previous incident on May 18, when a Chinese military helicopter flew dangerously close — within 10 feet — of a BFAR aircraft, drawing international rebuke. "I believe the Chinese side has learned from the backlash they received due to their reckless and dangerous actions last month," Tarriela said. "Their operational response this time appeared more cautious." Tarriela reiterated that the continued deployment of PCG and BFAR vessels in the area is part of the government's commitment to asserting Philippine sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The BFAR's ongoing fuel subsidy program is also aimed at ensuring that Filipino fishermen can continue their livelihood despite Chinese intimidation tactics. Tarriela also addressed claims made by foreign analysts, particularly retired United States Air Force Col. Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a transparency initiative dedicated to monitoring maritime activities in the South China Sea. Powell earlier suggested that Philippine vessels had been intercepted or blocked by Chinese forces based on Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking data. The PCG spokesman clarified that Powell's analysis relied solely on AIS movements, which do not always present a full picture of events on the ground. He explained that the apparent stationary positions of BFAR and PCG vessels were due to the distribution of fuel subsidies to Filipino fishermen and not because they were being blocked by Chinese ships. Tarriela emphasized that real-time monitoring from aerial surveillance provides a more accurate account of maritime incidents than relying exclusively on AIS data.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
RECONNAISSANCE flights on Monday revealed the presence of multiple Chinese vessels, including a warship, coast guard ships and maritime militia vessels near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Monday.
PCG spokesman on West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the maritime domain awareness mission was conducted in two sorties, with the first departing from Subic Airport at 8:51 a.m. and the second at 12:28 p.m.
During the MDA mission, the PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) documented the presence of a People's Liberation Army Navy warship 27 nautical miles southeast of the shoal. Five China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels with hull numbers 5205, 5201, 5303, 3301, and 5203 were also observed. Additionally, four Chinese maritime militia vessels were documented, with two positioned within the shoal and the others at distances of 2.7 and 8.16 nautical miles southeast of the shoal.
The Philippine presence in the area included two PCG vessels, BRP Bagacay and BRP Cabra. Four BFAR vessels, BRP Datu Tamblot, BRP Datu Sumkad, BRP Datu Balinsusa, and BRP Datu Pagbuaya, were also deployed in the area. Twenty-six Filipino fishing boats were present, receiving fuel subsidies from BFAR as part of ongoing government support for local fishermen operating in contested waters.
Tarriela confirmed that the Chinese had once again installed a floating barrier in the area, a move that has been repeatedly condemned by Philippine authorities as an unlawful attempt to restrict access to the rich fishing grounds.
The barrier, positioned at the southeast entrance of the shoal, is believed to be a measure to prevent Filipino fishing vessels from entering and operating freely in the area.
While no direct harassment was reported during this particular mission, Tarriela noted that a Chinese navy helicopter was observed trailing the BFAR aircraft at a distance of three nautical miles. This was a stark contrast to a previous incident on May 18, when a Chinese military helicopter flew dangerously close — within 10 feet — of a BFAR aircraft, drawing international rebuke.
"I believe the Chinese side has learned from the backlash they received due to their reckless and dangerous actions last month," Tarriela said. "Their operational response this time appeared more cautious."
Tarriela reiterated that the continued deployment of PCG and BFAR vessels in the area is part of the government's commitment to asserting Philippine sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The BFAR's ongoing fuel subsidy program is also aimed at ensuring that Filipino fishermen can continue their livelihood despite Chinese intimidation tactics.
Tarriela also addressed claims made by foreign analysts, particularly retired United States Air Force Col. Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a transparency initiative dedicated to monitoring maritime activities in the South China Sea.
Powell earlier suggested that Philippine vessels had been intercepted or blocked by Chinese forces based on Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking data.
The PCG spokesman clarified that Powell's analysis relied solely on AIS movements, which do not always present a full picture of events on the ground.
He explained that the apparent stationary positions of BFAR and PCG vessels were due to the distribution of fuel subsidies to Filipino fishermen and not because they were being blocked by Chinese ships.
Tarriela emphasized that real-time monitoring from aerial surveillance provides a more accurate account of maritime incidents than relying exclusively on AIS data.
