By Cliff Potts, Editor-in-Chief, WPS News
Friday, 9:00 a.m. ET

MANILA — The first eleven days of December brought a familiar but sharper edge to events in the West Philippine Sea, as Philippine military and civilian agencies documented a surge of Chinese coast guard, naval, and maritime militia activity—including an aerial flare encounter targeting a Philippine patrol aircraft on December 6.

The pattern aligns with long-observed Chinese operations across contested waters, but public reporting from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shows a notable concentration of vessels near key reefs and fishing grounds during the period of Dec. 1–11.

Twenty Chinese Vessels Logged in First Week of December

The AFP confirmed that 20 Chinese coast guard and naval vessels were monitored in the West Philippine Sea during the first week of December. According to AFP public statements, patrol ships and naval hulls were observed maneuvering around multiple contested features within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (ABS-CBN News, 2025).

Philippine defense officials reiterated that their patrols are lawful and that they remain engaged in steady monitoring operations. These sightings reflect Manila’s ongoing strategy of documenting maritime presence to support diplomatic, legal, and security responses.

Aircraft Encounter: Flares Fired from Chinese-Held Feature

On December 6, Chinese forces at Subi Reef fired three signal flares toward a Philippine patrol aircraft conducting a routine surveillance flight. According to the Philippine Coast Guard and government sources, the aircraft was monitoring coastal safety conditions and nearby fishing activity—operations that Manila describes as legal and necessary (AP News, 2025; Las Vegas Sun, 2025).

The flares did not strike the aircraft, but Philippine officials condemned the act as unsafe and unwarranted. Beijing has offered no public acknowledgment or clarification of the incident.

Coast Guard Logs Dozens of Chinese Vessels Across Multiple Reefs

Photos, social media posts, and official summaries from the PCG documented a mixture of Chinese maritime militia and coast guard vessels occupying reef areas across the WPS during the second week of December. Reports indicated:

  • Six maritime militia ships near Rozul Reef
  • Over 50 vessels across various WPS features
    (PCG/Instagram, 2025)

The PCG has not confirmed whether the vessels were static, rotating, or part of coordinated patrol lines, but the patterns match previous militia clustering reported throughout 2023–2025.

Local Communities Call for Visibility and Support

Coastal barangays in Palawan and Zambales continue to serve as the frontline reality of the maritime dispute. Local leaders and fisherfolk noted that increased Chinese activity, even without direct confrontation, often translates to reduced fishing access, heightened anxiety, and economic strain (Daily Guardian, 2025).

Experts say the Philippines’ legal framework—including the Maritime Zones Act—gives Manila clear jurisdictional footing, but enforcement capacity and real-world presence remain ongoing challenges (Wikipedia, 2025).

Regional Watchfulness and Larger Strategic Context

Chinese naval activity in the Philippine Sea and broader region also drew attention from international security analysts. Reuters reporting from early December detailed a large-scale redeployment of Chinese naval assets across East Asian waters—an outward show of maritime force that intersects directly with Philippine concerns (Reuters, 2025).

Manila’s security strategy continues to lean on diplomatic channels, international law, and alliances. Washington has reiterated its commitments under the Mutual Defense Treaty, and U.S. officials continue to emphasize the importance of maintaining open sea lanes and lawful maritime conduct (Reuters, 2025).

Looking Ahead

With December still unfolding, Philippine agencies are expected to sustain aerial and surface patrols, publish monitoring updates, and prepare diplomatic steps through the Department of Foreign Affairs.

For the coastal communities living closest to the dispute, the priority remains simple: safe fishing grounds, predictable livelihoods, and national presence in waters they rely on every day.

APA REFERENCES

ABS-CBN News. (2025, December 9). AFP: 20 Chinese coast guard, naval ships monitored in West Philippine Sea in first week of December. https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/9/afp-20-china-ships-monitored-in-west-ph-sea-in-first-week-of-december-1424

AP News. (2025). Philippines says China fired flares toward its patrol plane in the disputed South China Sea. https://apnews.com/article/050582ac9f143beec3841e2ae9b25e2b

Daily Guardian. (2025). Communities seen as key defenders in West Philippine Sea. https://dailyguardian.com.ph/communities-seen-as-key-defenders-in-west-philippine-sea/

Las Vegas Sun. (2025). Philippines says China fired flares toward its patrol plane. https://lasvegassun.com/news/2025/dec/06/philippines-says-china-fired-flares-toward-its-pat/

PCG/Instagram. (2025). West Philippine Sea vessel monitoring report. https://www.instagram.com/p/DR7YiRBD6HL/

Reuters. (2025). China massing military ships across region in show of maritime force. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-massing-military-ships-across-region-show-maritime-force-sources-say-2025-12-04/

Reuters. (2025). China warns Philippines over maritime incident. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-tells-philippines-stop-provocations-after-south-china-sea-vessel-clash-2025-10-13/

Wikipedia. (2025). Philippine Maritime Zones Act. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Maritime_Zones_Act

For more social commentary, see Occupy 2.5 at https://Occupy25.com

Discover more from WPS News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.