The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) says it monitored 48 Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea during July 2026. AFP officials report that from July 1 to 31, the military tracked 40 China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and eight People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) warships in and around several contested areas. These include Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, and Pag-asa (Thitu) Island. The AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad (Reserve), links the continued activity to Beijing’s ongoing presence in waters within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). One outlet notes that the July total is lower than figures reported in earlier months, but it does not dispute the composition and locations monitored during the period. The AFP’s account reflects its ongoing surveillance and reporting of maritime activity in the West Philippine Sea.