China Coast Guard Boosts Scarborough Shoal Patrols | Mariner News
The China Coast Guard has dramatically intensified its patrol operations around Scarborough Shoal, new analysis from CSIS/AMTI reveals. This concentrated focus represents a significant strategic shift, more than doubling vessel presence at this hotly contested South China Sea flashpoint. Their increased activity here comes with reduced presence in other disputed areas, highlighting escalating maritime tensions between China and the Philippines over the vital waterway.
China’s Enhanced Patrol Strategy
Satellite AIS data illustrates this robust commitment. Last year, the China Coast Guard maintained a near-constant presence at Scarborough Shoal for 352 days—approximately 96 percent of the time. The allocation of 1,099 ship-days to the reef signifies a sharp rise from 516 ship-days in 2024. Up to five CCG vessels were observed concurrently, with a typical daily average of three hulls, actively asserting China’s territorial claims and control in the strategically important area.
Impact on South China Sea Tensions
Scarborough Shoal continues to be a critical flashpoint, having seen several confrontations, including water-cannoning incidents. The sustained and robust China Coast Guard presence profoundly affects maritime security for the Philippines and wider regional stability. This deliberate concentration of forces aims to control access and reinforce China’s claims, raising concerns about potential future naval incidents and the broader peace in the South China Sea.
