Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, posted on his Facebook last Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, a photo of himself in front of a flatscreen television displaying an image collage that appeared to be an AI-generated picture of Chinese leader Xi Jinping. (Photo from Facebook of Jay Tarriela)
China Coast Guard (CCG) patrols moved progressively closer to the Luzon coastline last year and intensified operations around Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, pushing Filipino fishermen away from their traditional fishing grounds, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
The PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, cited the observation in the PCG’s annual maritime security report, which also recorded a higher number of Chinese forces in the area, including vessels from the CCG, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), and the Chinese maritime militia.
Tarriela said the report also showed a shift in how and where CCG vessels were operating. They were tracked conducting what the PCG described as illegal patrols from waters off Ilocos in northern Luzon down to Mindoro.
Fishermen displaced farther
The closest recorded approach occurred on April 8, 2025, when a CCG vessel came within 42.6 kilometers off the coast of Dasol, Pangasinan.
The PCG report said this marked a shift from 2024, when CCG vessels primarily operated within an 18.5-km to 27.8-km radius around Panatag.
As a direct result, Tarriela said Filipino fishermen were displaced farther from the shoal as the Chinese vessels “aggressively” drove them toward the Luzon coast and away from their traditional fishing grounds.
The shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc, lies about 229 km west of Zambales, within the country’s 370-km exclusive economic zone.
Beijing continues to ignore a 2016 ruling by an international arbitral tribunal that nullified its claims and upheld Manila’s sovereign rights over these waters.
Increased PCG patrols
The report also showed that the number of China maritime militia and fishing vessels peaked at 39 in April 2025, while the presence of CCG vessels reached a high of 17 in May and August.
The PCG, in turn, significantly increased its patrols around Panatag.
On average, PCG vessels spent nearly 27 days per month at sea in 2025, up from an average of 17 to 18 days per month in 2024.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
The sustained presence was intended to prevent the “normalization” of illegal CCG activities and to protect Filipino fishermen, the report added.
For comprehensive coverage, in-depth analysis, visit our special page for West Philippine Sea updates. Stay informed with articles, videos, and expert opinions.
