Edward Mico Joseph Agustin

A Chinese Coast Guard patrol ship is seen at South China Sea, in a handout photo distributed by the Philippine Coast Guard. Handout, Philippine Coast Guard

Article (news)

AFP monitoring increased Chinese vessels over Ayungin Shoal

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1958542573838234043&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-08-21T13%3A00%3A08.656322%3A4661288c-d190-4917-bc0a-26600de67889%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=d6bbc89a5dacad2f5b163c66f43dbe8b59e8bd24&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:532px;height:1116px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="1958542573838234043"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA - Chinese rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) fitted with armaments and coast guard ships conducting water cannon drills were spotted in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the activities were observed during its August 20 maritime domain awareness (MDA) monitoring near the shoal, where the grounded BRP Sierra Madre has served as a Philippine naval outpost since 1999.</p><p>“China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels have been seen conducting maneuvers and drills involving the use of water cannons at sea, while a number of smaller craft such as rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) and fast boats were also deployed inside the shoal,” the AFP said in a statement released on Thursday night.</p><p>The military observed that some of the China Coast Guard’s fast boats have been upgraded with mounted weapons, including heavy crew-served weapons.</p><p>A Chinese rotary aircraft and a Chinese unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) were also seen flying over Ayungin Shoal.</p><p>“In total, five China Coast Guard vessels were present, supported by eleven RHIBs/fast boats and nine Chinese maritime militia vessels. Aerial assets were also monitored during the deployment,” the AFP noted.</p><p>In a video shared by the military, two Philippine rubber boats were seen blocking the attempt of a CCG small boat to go near the BRP Sierra Madre.</p><p>“The AFP’s MDA activities form part of its continuing monitoring and reporting on developments in the West Philippine Sea as we remain committed to safeguarding Philippine sovereignty and protecting our troops stationed in the area,” the AFP said.</p><p>The military has yet to respond to questions on whether additional Philippine vessels were deployed to Ayungin Shoal following increased Chinese activities.</p>

<p>Chinese rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) fitted with armaments and coast guard ships conducting water cannon drills have been spotted near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.</p>

Chinese rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) fitted with armaments and coast guard ships conducting water cannon drills have been spotted near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

Armed Chinese boats, aircraft, UAV spotted in Ayungin — AFP

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Armed Chinese boats, aircraft, UAV spotted in Ayungin — AFP

Bianca Dava,

Edward Mico Joseph Agustin,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 21, 2025 11:39 PM PHT

Read More:

AFP

Ayungin Shoal

China Coast Guard

Chinese vessels

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