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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 7 Chinese vessels, aircraft seen operating in Bajo de Masinloc – PCG

7 Chinese vessels, aircraft seen operating in Bajo de Masinloc – PCG

Published Nov 21, 2025 04:38 pm
At least five China Coast Guard (CCG) ships, including this vessel with bow number "552," and two Chinese aircraft are seen operating in Bajo de Masinloc, West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Nov. 21, 2025 during a routine maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). (Courtesy of PCG)
At least five China Coast Guard (CCG) ships, including this vessel with bow number "552," and two Chinese aircraft are seen operating in Bajo de Masinloc, West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Nov. 21, 2025 during a routine maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). (Courtesy of PCG)
At least five Chinese vessels and two aircraft were spotted operating in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal), West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Friday, Nov. 21, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The Chinese forces were monitored during a routine maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and PCG, said PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela.
According to initial field reports, at least three China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels with bow numbers “CCG 3303,” “CCG 3502,” and “CCG 3305” were observed loitering as close as one nautical mile from the shoal.
People’s Liberation Army (PLA)-Navy warships “553” and “165” were also seen maneuvering south of the shoal, according to Tarriela.
Further, a Chinese jetfighter made a close pass southeast of the shoal during the MDA flight while an unidentified Chinese Navy helicopter was spotted in the western portion of the feature.
During the flight, the BFAR aircraft received 40 radio challenges: 34 from a PLA Navy vessel and six from a Chinese military aircraft, attempting to drive the BFAR and PCG team away from the shoal.
Tarriela said the BFAR pilot responded to each challenge, asserting that the aircraft was operating within Philippine territory.
There were also two Chinese buoys found deployed inside the lagoon while another one was positioned northwest of the area.
“Despite facing repeated harassment, the BFAR aircraft completed its mission and returned safely without incident,” Tarriela said.
The PCG said the presence of the vessels and equipment underscores China’s continued activities inside the traditional fishing grounds of Filipino fishermen.
Bajo de Masinloc is located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, well within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines, but China continues to claim it as part of its waters, maintaining a steady presence of Chinese maritime forces to assert dominance.
In 2016, an arbitral ruling invalidated China’s expansionist claims in the South China Sea, including parts of the WPS, after a case filed by the Philippine government but Beijing ignored the decision.

Related Tags

PCG West Philippine Sea China Coast Guard PLA Navy Bajo de Masinloc
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