In a clear demonstration of resolve in the contested waters of the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on September 28, 2026 successfully drove away a Chinese Maritime Militia vessel and 24 accompanying small boats engaged in illegal fishing near Kota Island in the Kalayaan Island Group.
Keywords: South China Sea, Philippine Coast Guard, Chinese Maritime Militia, Kota Island, West Philippine Sea, UNCLOS, Kalayaan Island Group
PCG personnel stationed on the Philippine-occupied feature detected Chinese Maritime Militia Vessel (CMMV) 9622 at approximately 10 am, positioned about 1.2 nautical miles northwest of the island. The mothership launched 24 sampans, each crewed by two individuals. These small craft dispersed at roughly 50-yard intervals and were later observed fishing and circling within 300 yards of the shore, well inside Philippine territorial waters.
At 11 am, a five-member team from Coast Guard Station Kota deployed aboard a rubber boat to challenge the intruders. CMMV 9622 ignored repeated radio calls. Its crew responded only with hand signals acknowledging the order to depart. Upon the arrival of the PCG team, the militia vessel and all 24 sampans immediately withdrew. All Philippine personnel returned safely with no incident reported.
Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, described the operation as a textbook example of China’s force-multiplying tactic. By deploying numerous small boats from a single platform, the militia extends its presence under the guise of civilian fishing activity while remaining below the threshold of overt military coercion. Tarriela stressed that such operations violate Philippine sovereignty, domestic fisheries laws, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Kota Island forms an integral part of the Municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan province. Foreign vessels have no right to fish in its territorial sea without Philippine authorisation. The PCG affirmed it will maintain a sustained presence around the island, continue challenging illegal activities, and publicly disclose such incidents in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive that the Philippines will not be cowed into silence or submission.
The incident underscores Manila’s growing willingness to assert its rights against grey-zone tactics in the South China Sea. As Beijing continues to employ maritime militia to reinforce claims rejected by the 2016 arbitral ruling, the swift and professional response by a small PCG team sends a measured but firm signal: Philippine waters will be defended with resolve and transparency.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.
