Chinese vessels assemble near Scarborough Shoal.

Reconnaissance flights conducted on Monday confirmed the presence of multiple Chinese vessels, including a warship, coast guard ships, and maritime militia vessels near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, reported that the maritime domain awareness (MDA) mission took place in two sorties, with the first departing Subic Airport at 8:51 a.m. and the second at 12:28 p.m.

During the operation, the PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) documented a People's Liberation Army Navy warship positioned 27 nautical miles southeast of the shoal. Additionally, five China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, identified by hull numbers 5205, 5201, 5303, 3301, and 5203, were spotted. Four maritime militia vessels were also observed, with two inside the shoal and the others stationed 2.7 and 8.16 nautical miles southeast of the area.

On the Philippine side, two PCG vessels—BRP Bagacay and BRP Cabra—were present, along with four BFAR vessels: BRP Datu Tamblot, BRP Datu Sumkad, BRP Datu Balinsusa, and BRP Datu Pagbuaya. Twenty-six Filipino fishing boats were also documented in the area, receiving fuel subsidies from BFAR as part of the government’s continued support for local fishermen operating in disputed waters.

Tarriela confirmed that China had once again deployed a floating barrier at the shoal’s southeast entrance, a move that Philippine authorities have repeatedly condemned as an illegal attempt to restrict access to vital fishing grounds.

While no direct confrontations occurred during this mission, a Chinese navy helicopter was observed trailing the BFAR aircraft from a distance of three nautical miles. This was notably different from an earlier incident on May 18, when a Chinese military helicopter flew dangerously close—within just 10 feet—of a BFAR aircraft, sparking international criticism.

"I believe the Chinese have adjusted their tactics following the backlash from their reckless and dangerous actions last month," Tarriela stated, noting that their operational approach appeared more restrained this time.

He reiterated that the continued deployment of PCG and BFAR vessels demonstrates the Philippine government’s commitment to asserting its sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The BFAR’s fuel subsidy program is also intended to support Filipino fishermen amid ongoing Chinese intimidation efforts.

Addressing claims made by foreign analysts, particularly retired U.S. Air Force Col. Ray Powell, director of SeaLight—a maritime transparency initiative—Tarriela clarified that Powell’s analysis relied solely on Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking data, which does not always present a complete picture of on-the-ground events.

He explained that Philippine vessels appearing stationary in AIS data were actually distributing fuel subsidies to local fishermen and were not being obstructed by Chinese ships, as Powell had suggested.

Tarriela emphasized that aerial surveillance provides a more accurate and real-time account of maritime incidents compared to relying solely on AIS tracking.

Source:https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/03/25/news/national/chinese-ships-gather-near-scarborough-shoal/2078979