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China doubled patrols at Scarborough Shoal
The Freeman
|January 31, 2026
China more than doubled its coast guard presence at Scarborough Shoal in 2025, according to new analysis released Thursday, January 29.
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Data shows China kept up patrols around the feature nearly every day of the year as Beijing intensified its focus on the maritime feature, which sits within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The China Coast Guard recorded 1,099 ship days at Scarborough in 2025 — up from 516 in 2024 — with patrols observed on 352 calendar days, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) found.
The Washington-based research group analyzed automatic identification system data from commercial provider Starboard Maritime Intelligence.
This story is from the January 31, 2026 edition of The Freeman.
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