Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Armed Forces of the Philippines reports Chinese vessel swarming in Iroquois and Sabina, posing threat to Recto Bank security. Forty-eight Chinese fishing vessels have been reported to be swarming Iroquois Reef, located south of the oil and gas-rich Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea. This information comes from the latest air patrol conducted on June 30, 2023. Courtesy of Western Command Armed Forces of the Philippines

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767685468160173398085729720230630-china-spratlys-HO-12_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Armed Forces of the Philippines reports Chinese vessel swarming in Iroquois and Sabina, posing threat to Recto Bank security. Forty-eight Chinese fishing vessels have been reported to be swarming Iroquois Reef, located south of the oil and gas-rich Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea. This information comes from the latest air patrol conducted on June 30, 2023. 📷༘ <em>Courtesy of Western Command Armed Forces of the Philippines</em></span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">MANILA — Chinese maritime and air activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) are expected to persist into 2026, as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, China Coast Guard (CCG) and maritime militia continue to operate in an increasingly integrated and deterrence-focused manner, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/2/afp-says-japan-france-will-be-more-active-in-2026-maritime-exercises-1600">AFP says Japan, France will be &#x27;more active&#x27; in 2026 maritime exercises</a></div><p>Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said that from 2024 to 2025, Chinese activity evolved “from intermittent support to a more persistent deterrent posture,” even as the Philippines expanded its maritime cooperative activities (MCAs) with its ally and partners.</p><p>“The West Philippine Sea is just a microcosm of what is happening in the international arena,” Trinidad told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday.</p><p>“These are not incidents that happen by themselves. If you notice, not only in the region but around the world, there is an increase in different geopolitical activities, and naturally, that would also impact on the West Philippine Sea,” he further said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/12/china-carrying-out-maritime-occupation-in-west-philippine-sea-analyst-1326">China carrying out &#x27;maritime occupation&#x27; in West Philippine Sea: analyst</a></div><p>Trinidad stressed that the Department of National Defense (DND) and AFP are addressing the current security climate through a “robust approach” centered on modernization, capacity building, and defense diplomacy.</p><p>“Our activities, number one, are through modernization that would include capacity building and maritime domain awareness. Number two, our defense diplomacy has been very strong. We now have five Status of Visiting Forces Agreements (SOVFAs) with other countries—the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Canada, with more coming up,” the official said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>GEOPOLITICAL TENSIONS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Trinidad said the geopolitical tension directly affecting the Philippines is China’s effort to establish sea control over the entire South China Sea.</p><p>He noted reports of increased patrols, not only by the CCG but also by the PLA Navy and the PLA Air Force.</p><p>“If we look at the trend from 2024 to 2025, the actions of the PLA Navy, the China Coast Guard, and the maritime militia are towards integration of their respective forces. We expect this trend to continue in 2026, not only at sea but even in the air,” Trinidad said.</p><p>“Likewise, the AFP is, more than ever, up to the challenge. We are ready for any eventuality given our current capabilities, not only ourselves, but in conjunction with like-minded nations,” he continued.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MORE MARITIME COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>According to the Navy official, MCAs are now considered part of the AFP’s operational maneuver, not merely training events.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/13/ph-us-japan-complete-maritime-exercise-in-west-ph-sea-amid-chinese-presence-1936">PH, US, Japan complete maritime exercise in West PH Sea amid Chinese presence</a></div><p>“Based on the guidance of the Chief of Staff, multilateral MCAs (MMCAs) are now part of our operational design. We don’t look at them as mere training activities,” he said. “This allows us to cover more areas of our maritime domain.”</p><p>Trinidad added that while many MCAs have been conducted in the West Philippine Sea, joint patrols have also expanded to other maritime areas, including in the southern Philippines.</p><p>He also noted that 2026 will likely see more bilateral and multilateral exercises as defense diplomacy deepens.</p><p>“Drills are a direct result of increased diplomacy. The thrust of the DND is to enhance more our defense diplomacy and you could expect more bilateral and multilateral MCAs. There will be more multilateral exercises,” Trinidad said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PROPAGANDA?</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Asked about a Chinese Embassy-released video during showing the PLA Navy assisting a Filipino fisherman—an incident later clarified by the Philippine Coast Guard—Trinidad warned against what he described as possible propaganda.</p><p>“All mariners are mandated to render assistance to fellow mariners regardless of flag, creed, or nationality,” he said.</p><p>Trinidad went on, “Such assistance need not be publicized, especially by a country with a record of coercive and aggressive actions. Doing so would lose the essence of such assistance and would only speak of propaganda.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dHENcgG23C0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/89mYYZtMqeg?&amp;embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abs-cbn.com%2F&amp;source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Philippine Navy said the geopolitical tension directly affecting the Philippines is China’s effort to establish sea control over the entire South China Sea.</p>

The Philippine Navy said the geopolitical tension directly affecting the Philippines is China’s effort to establish sea control over the entire South China Sea.

Chinese activities in the West PH Sea seen to continue in 2026—Navy spox

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Chinese activities in the West PH Sea seen to continue in 2026—Navy spox

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 06, 2026 03:47 PM PHT

Read More:

West Philippine Sea

Chinese activities

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Philippine Navy

South China Sea

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