MANILA, Philippines — A sobering new report from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reveals that Chinese maritime forces significantly ramped up their presence in 2025, with patrols pushing deeper into Philippine waters and edging closer to the Luzon coastline than in previous years.
According to the PCG’s annual maritime security report, shared by Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels have shifted their operational tactics, moving away from just loitering around distant shoals to conducting “illegal patrols” that spanned from the northern tip of Ilocos down to the waters of Mindoro.
A Shrinking Buffer The report highlighted a startling escalation in proximity. On April 8, 2025, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel was tracked just 42.6 kilometers (23 nautical miles) off the coast of Dasol, Pangasinan. This represents a bold move toward the Philippine mainland compared to 2024, when Chinese vessels largely remained within an 18.5-to-27.8-kilometer radius around Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.
Fishermen Pushed to the Brink This aggressive positioning has had a devastating impact on local livelihoods. The PCG noted that Filipino fishermen are being systematically “displaced farther” from their traditional grounds at Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal). Chinese ships have reportedly used aggressive maneuvers to drive small Filipino fishing boats toward the Luzon coast, effectively barring them from the resource-rich waters located well within the Philippines’ 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone.
By the Numbers: A Growing Presence The sheer volume of Chinese assets in the area reached new heights last year:
- Maritime Militia: Peaked at 39 vessels in April 2025.
- Coast Guard Strength: Reached a high of 17 vessels in May and August.
- Navy Involvement: The report also recorded an increased frequency of People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships in the vicinity.
The Philippine Response In an effort to prevent the “normalization” of these encroachments, the PCG drastically increased its own sea time. In 2025, Philippine vessels averaged 27 days per month at sea—a sharp jump from the 17-to-18-day average maintained in 2024.
Despite a 2016 international arbitral ruling that invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims, the report makes it clear that the pressure on the Philippines’ western frontier is not just persisting—it is moving closer to home.