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A China Coast Guard vessel near Cabra Island that is being monitored by the Philippine Coast Guard, September 27, 2026. Handout/PCG
MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has yet to confirm reports of a Chinese naval and air exercise in Bajo de Masinloc, saying it had monitored only one China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel and one Chinese maritime militia vessel during a patrol in the area a day before.
PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said on Sunday that the PCG had no independent confirmation of the reported drills and was relying on Chinese state media reports.
AFP monitors 48 Chinese coast guard, naval vessels in West PH Sea
“Well, we don't have any confirmation about the statement of the China Coast Guard or the PLA [People’s Liberation Army] Navy that they conducted their exercises as of this morning. We only relied on the state media statements of the People's Republic of China,” Tarriela told reporters.
During a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight over Bajo de Masinloc on Saturday, the PCG documented one CCG vessel and one Chinese maritime militia vessel, with no apparent increase in the number of Chinese maritime assets at the time.
“Maybe the vessels just arrived this morning,” Tarriela said.
He stressed that China’s reported military exercise would not change the Philippines’ position on Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, citing the 2016 Arbitral Award.
Tarriela also pointed to the recent ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) maritime exercise hosted by the Philippines, which involved naval assets of the United States, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, India, Brunei, and Singapore.
Tarriela warns China control of Bajo de Masinloc could complete 'Iron Triangle'
The PCG spokesperson said the Philippine Navy had invited China to join the formations, but Beijing did not participate.
“Now, they are conducting their own, which for me and for the international community is another illegal and aggressive action on the part of the Chinese government,” he said.
Tarriela maintained that the Philippines and other countries supporting a rules-based order would continue to reject China’s position in the area.
“Despite of the military and aggressive action that they are doing there, we still believe that not only the Philippines, but also the international community and majority of countries who support the rules-based order, are condemning the illegal position of China,” the official said.
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