The Philippine Navy reported that 41 Chinese warships and China Coast Guard vessels were observed in various areas of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) throughout May 2025.
From May 1 to 31, the Navy tracked:
- Bajo de Masinloc: 15 Coast Guard and 11 PLA Navy ships
- Ayungin Shoal: 6 Coast Guard and 1 PLA Navy ship
- Pagasa Island: 4 Coast Guard and 4 PLA Navy ships
Additionally, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) recorded 15,765 vessel movements across the country’s maritime zones during the same period. Out of these, 12,608 were foreign ships, and 1,349 did not respond to radio challenges—particularly in Pagasa, Tubbataha, and Ayungin Shoal.
These developments underscore ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, where China continues to assert expansive claims despite a 2016 Hague tribunal ruling in favor of the Philippines. The Philippines refers to its claimed parts of the area as the West Philippine Sea, encompassing waters near Luzon, the Kalayaan Island Group, and Bajo de Masinloc.