Ched Rick Gatchalian

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PH Navy ‘up to the challenge’ amid spotted Chinese militia, coast guard vessels

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Philippine Navy is unfazed by the presence of around 300 Chinese maritime militia vessels throughout the West Philippine Sea.Philippine Navy Spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad reported that the 101 Chinese maritime militia vessels spotted over the weekend are part of a total strength of roughly 350 maritime militia vessels all over the WPS.He said the vessels are China&#x27;s “force multipliers” and are anchored and “nested” in various areas of the West Philippine Sea “just to show that they are occupying a particular spot within our [Exclusive Economic Zone].”<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/8/-we-are-not-at-war-carpio-says-filipinos-can-still-trade-with-china-amid-wps-tensions-1630">‘We are not at war’: Carpio says Filipinos can trade with China despite West PH Sea tensions</a></div>He said the militia vessels are fishing boats with a &quot;dual purpose&quot; of assisting China&#x27;s navy and coast guard. “Kumbaga ito ang CAFGU sa dagat,” he said in an interview with state-run media PTV Wednesday, December 10. (These are like our Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit but in the sea)The military has also monitored 20 China Coast Guard and People&#x27;s Liberation Army Navy ships in various features in the first week of December.“There are times na meron tayong fisherfolks na tinataboy nila but ‘yung ating presensya naman ay tumutulong na iniiwasan nila na makuhanan sila ng video na tinataboy nila o ginagawan ng coercive and aggressive actions and ating mga fisherfolks,” he noted.(Sometimes they chase out fisherfolk away, but our presence helps prevent that because they don&#x27;t want to be caught on video conducting coercive or aggressive actions against our fisherfolk)Trinidad also pointed out that it is the Chinese PLA Navy that are causing tensions in the region.“Ang ginagawa natin, pinapanindigan natin ang sa atin (What we are doing is standing up for what is ours). We are here to secure and to protect what is rightfully and legally ours,” he said.Trinidad called the continuous “illegal presence” of China ships as a “great challenge” but maintained that the Philippine Navy and Armed Forces of the Philippines are “up to the challenge”, noting that they also have the help of other countries.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/9/afp-20-china-ships-monitored-in-west-ph-sea-in-first-week-of-december-1424">AFP: 20 Chinese coast guard, naval ships monitored in West Philippine Sea in first week of December</a></div>

The Philippine Navy is unfazed amid the presence of around 300 Chinese maritime militia vessels all throughout the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippine Navy is unfazed amid the presence of around 300 Chinese maritime militia vessels all throughout the West Philippine Sea.

PH Navy says ‘up to the challenge’ amid Chinese militia, coast guard ships in West Philippine Sea

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PH Navy says ‘up to the challenge’ amid Chinese militia, coast guard ships in West Philippine Sea

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 10, 2025 03:34 PM PHT

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West Philippines Sea

Philippine Navy

PLA

Chinese maritime militia vessel

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