AFP Reports 90 Unauthorized Chinese Vessels in West Philippine Sea During March 2026

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command released its monthly maritime monitoring tally for March 2026, confirming that 90 unauthorized Chinese vessels were spotted within Philippine maritime zones during the month. The AFP's comprehensive count for March logged 22,755 total vessels in Philippine maritime zones — 19,328 foreign-flagged and 3,428 domestic — of which the 90 unauthorized Chinese vessels were flagged as a concern. The monthly tally comes amid the BRP Benguet incident (March 25), an active PLAN warship presence in the Spratlys, and continued negotiations following the Quanzhou BCM/FMC talks. The data highlighted the persistent pressure of Chinese maritime activity across multiple Philippine maritime zones simultaneously, including near Pag-asa Island, Second Thomas Shoal, and Scarborough Shoal.