MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard deployed ships and aircraft on Wednesday to Bajo de Masinloc following reports of aggressive maneuvers by Chinese maritime forces against Filipino fishermen.

PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, said surface vessels were dispatched in coordination with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to ensure the safety of local fishers and provide fuel, ice, and food packs.

Filipino fishermen reported “dangerous maneuvers” by China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels 21605, 3107, and 3103, along with maritime militia ships, including repeated use of sirens and RHIBs intended to drive Filipino fishermen away.

PCG Commandant Ronnie Gil Gavan also ordered an aerial patrol Wednesday morning, which confirmed a significant presence of both Filipino and Chinese vessels. The flight documented five CCG ships, three People’s Liberation Army Navy vessels, and two Chinese maritime militia vessels. Yellow buoys installed by China were also spotted around Bajo de Masinloc.

“During the flight, the PCG aircraft actively challenged the illegal presence of CCG and PLAN vessels in Philippine waters. Notably, this was the first time a People’s Liberation Army Air Force asset challenged a PCG aircraft,” Tarriela said.

Bajo de Masinloc, or Scarborough Shoal, is located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). China claims almost all of the South China Sea, including parts also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

The area under Philippine jurisdiction has been renamed the West Philippine Sea, which includes waters around Luzon, the Kalayaan Island Group, and Bajo de Masinloc. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines, declaring China’s claims had “no legal basis,” a ruling Beijing refuses to recognize.

The PCG said its mission continues to ensure the safety of Filipino fishermen while documenting and challenging the presence of foreign vessels in Philippine waters.