The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it monitored 48 Chinese naval and coast guard vessels in the West Philippine Sea during July. According to the military, the ships were observed across four key features in the disputed waters.
The announcement, made Tuesday, highlights the scale of maritime activity the Philippines tracked over the course of the month. The reported total covers both Chinese navy and coast guard presence in areas that Manila includes within the West Philippine Sea.
While the AFP statement focused on the number of vessels and the locations involved, the update also underscores the military’s continuing surveillance of developments in the area. Monitoring activity in the West Philippine Sea remains a closely watched issue because of competing claims and repeated encounters at sea.
The July figure adds to the regular public reporting by Philippine authorities on ship movements in the region. Such updates are often used to show the extent of foreign vessel presence in waters that the Philippines considers strategically important.