In our annual report, we noted a higher number of Chinese maritime forces—including the PLA Navy, China Coast Guard (CCG), and Chinese Maritime Militia—in Bajo De Masinloc last year. In addition to this overall increase, CCG vessels conducting illegal patrols have been operating progressively closer to the Luzon coast, from Ilocos down to Mindoro. The closest recorded approach occurred on 08 April 2025, when a CCG vessel reached 23 nautical miles from the coast off Dasol, Pangasinan.
This marks a shift from 2024, when CCG vessels primarily operated within a 10–15 nautical mile radius of BDM. As a direct consequence, Filipino fishermen have been displaced farther from BDM, as CCG vessels have aggressively driven them toward the Luzon coast and away from their traditional fishing grounds.
In response to these illegal CCG patrols, the Philippine Coast Guard significantly extended its presence in the BDM area in 2025 compared to 2024. On average, PCG vessels spent nearly 27 days per month at sea in the vicinity of BDM, maintaining a sustained presence to prevent the normalization of illegal CCG activities and to protect Filipino fishermen.
