China has deployed 22 military vessels from its navy on October 10, 2026, near Kuta Island, which is under Philippine control. This action has been confirmed by the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) and includes Chinese military ships and small boats for unauthorized fishing and waste dumping activities at sea.
Chinese Military Movements in the Philippine Sea
On October 8, 2026, a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel attacked a Philippine medical mission that aimed to evacuate a Filipino soldier from the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal using water cannons. The BRP Sierra Madre was deliberately grounded at Ayungin in 1999 to counter China's militarization near Mischief Reef.
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On September 25, 2026, Filipinos confirmed that Chinese Coast Guard and People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels obstructed a rotation and resupply mission for the BRP Sierra Madre. Additionally, another vessel named BRP Datu Magat Salamat was damaged on September 18, 2026, while transferring fuel to Filipino fishermen due to a collision with a CCG vessel.
Increased Chinese Military Presence in the Region
These movements indicate an increased Chinese military presence in the West Philippine Sea, leading to a doubling of the number of PLAN and CCG vessels in the past month. The number of these vessels around the Pag-asa Islands, Ayungin Shoal, Scaramouche Shoal, and Scarborough Reef has reached 101, nearly double the 56 vessels recorded in August 2026.
Despite an agreement signed in 2024 between the Philippines and China to provide predictable processes and reduce the risk of miscalculations, Filipinos continue to face aggressive actions from China at sea. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated at a recent global CEOs conference in Singapore that his country has come to terms with these tensions and is seeking to prevent their escalation. This approach by the Filipinos is based on transparency and documenting China's unauthorized activities in the West Philippine Sea.
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