AFP: China Coast Guard Presence in West Philippine Sea Rises to 77 Ships in H1 2026 as Beijing Shifts to 'Law Enforcement' Vessels

The Armed Forces of the Philippines reported on August 18, 2026 that China Coast Guard vessel monitoring in the West Philippine Sea rose to 77 ships in the first half of 2026, up from 68 in the same period of 2025, while PLA-Navy vessels declined from 100 to 78 and China Maritime Militia vessels fell from 999 to 850 over the same window. Research and survey vessels rose from 33 to 44. AFP spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the pattern 'indicates an emphasis on law enforcement functions in the West Philippine Sea,' as Beijing leans more on ostensibly civilian CCG and research assets rather than PLA-Navy warships or maritime militia to assert its claims.