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Game of Drones: The Silent Battle Unfolding in the West Philippine Sea

Article by J. Salazar

Published on August 6, 2026 11:00PM



Unmanned vessels operating near Luzon and other Philippine islands demonstrate how low-cost technology can enhance maritime domain awareness in the West Philippine Sea.


A recent incident involving a commercial sea drone capturing footage of a Chinese warship operating near the Philippines has highlighted the growing role of autonomous vessels in maritime surveillance. The development offers new opportunities for the Philippines to strengthen its monitoring capabilities in the West Philippine Sea, where the country exercises sovereign rights under international law.


Verified footage near Luzon


On June 16, 2026, a Lightfish drone operated by Seasats, a California-based autonomous vessel maker, captured video of a Chinese Type 052D guided-missile destroyer operating approximately 105 kilometers northwest of Luzon, the largest island in the Philippine archipelago. ¹ ² ³ Its authenticity of the footage was independently verified and confirmed the identity of the vessel as a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy destroyer. ¹ ³


The incident marks what Seasats believes is the first privately recorded footage by a U.S. firm of a Chinese warship operating inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). ² ⁴ The encounter underscores how commercially available unmanned surface vessels are reshaping naval operations and intelligence gathering in the Indo-Pacific region. ⁴


“The key point isn’t that a Chinese destroyer was observed; it’s that a relatively inexpensive commercial platform was able to do it,” said Ray Powell, director of Stanford University’s SeaLight Foundation. ⁵


Philippines monitoring the situation


The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed it is aware of the reported presence of the Chinese warship and the unmanned vessel in the country’s EEZ. “The Armed Forces of the Philippines is aware of reports regarding the presence of a Chinese PLA Navy vessel and an unmanned surface vessel allegedly operating within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone. We are closely tracking and monitoring the situation in coordination with other maritime agencies,” AFP spokesperson Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a statement. ⁶


The Philippine government has not issued a formal reaction to the specific incident, while the Chinese foreign ministry stated that the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s activities complied with international law. Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for the ministry, urged “relevant parties” to avoid approaching Chinese naval vessels at close range, warning such encounters “could lead to accidental incidents at sea or in the air.” ⁵


Expanding unmanned capabilities in Philippine waters


The Philippines has been actively expanding its unmanned maritime capabilities in the West Philippine Sea. In June 2026, the United States transferred four (4) Ocean Aero Triton autonomous underwater and surface vehicles (AUSVs) worth approximately 754 million pesos ($13 million) to the Philippine Navy. ⁷ ⁸ The Triton systems, which are solar-powered and capable of operating for up to 30 days, are intended to enhance the Philippines’ ability to detect and respond to maritime challenges and illegal maritime activities. ⁸


The Tritons will be deployed to protect subsea cables and monitor incursions by Chinese vessels and maritime militia in disputed features within the West Philippine Sea, including areas near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) and the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG). ⁷ According to the U.S. Embassy, the systems can collect data above and below the ocean’s surface through a mesh network, providing long-endurance monitoring capabilities. ⁸


In March 2026, Sea Machines conducted Tropical Winter 100, an autonomy sea trial involving the SELKIE unmanned surface vessel (USV) operating off Subic Bay in the West Philippine Sea. The 100-nautical-mile autonomous mission demonstrated real-world persistent maritime domain awareness capabilities. ⁹


Strategic advantages for Philippine maritime security


The proliferation of commercially operated vessels in contested sea lanes creates operational challenges for warships, according to Jose Parejo, chief executive of geopolitical risk firm Jose Parejo & Associates. A 3.5-meter drone can be considerably harder to classify than a conventional vessel because of its size and unconventional appearance. ⁵


“These [vessels] could be deployed to augment satellites in monitoring broad swathes of the ocean, which could further increase battlefield transparency and make it easier to spot enemy ships,” said Timothy Heath, head of defense research firm Perceptum. Heath added that he believed commercial operators could plausibly be feeding data into military intelligence networks within five to 10 years. ⁵


The solar-powered Lightfish drone is designed for missions lasting up to six (6) months at a time and can be equipped with electro-optical and infrared cameras, sonar and other sensors, according to Seasats. The company has previously said that another Lightfish documented Chinese warships, including a Type 056 corvette, as it passed through the Taiwan Strait in May 2026. ⁵ ¹²


Operational challenges and legal considerations


Maritime drones that have dual military-civilian uses are likely to be increasingly used for grey-zone operations, acts that fall short of outright warfare, Powell said. “That creates a grey-zone problem, because from the outside it’s hard to tell whether a given platform is a research tool, a private asset or effectively a node in a military sensing network,” Powell said. ⁵


Parejo warned that in the absence of a dedicated international legal regime governing crewless maritime systems, uncertainty would increase the risk of miscalculations. “That gap between detection and comprehension is precisely the vulnerability,” Parejo said. ⁵


Previously, naval commanders could speak to the crews of vessels they encountered to work out their intentions, something that is obviously not possible with a drone. ⁵ This limitation underscores the need for clear protocols and communication channels to prevent misunderstandings in the West Philippine Sea.


Regional context and future implications


The Philippines’ deployment of unmanned systems aligns with broader efforts to enhance maritime domain awareness in the West Philippine Sea. Various government agencies, including the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and Philippine National Police-Maritime Group (PNP-MG), are coordinating continuous regular deployment of vessels in the country’s maritime domain for law enforcement, monitoring, ensuring the safety of Filipino fishermen, and protecting the environment. ¹⁰ ¹³ ¹⁴


The deployment of BFAR’s monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) and multi-mission offshore vessels (MMOV) off Kalayaan will also boost the country’s capability to deter illegal fishing. ¹⁰ ¹⁵


As the Philippines continues to develop its unmanned maritime capabilities, the country is positioning itself to better monitor and protect its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. The integration of commercial and military-grade autonomous systems offers a cost-effective means of maintaining persistent surveillance over vast maritime areas, including those near Luzon, Mindoro, Palawan, and other Philippine islands. ⁷ ⁸ ⁹

____________________

Notes:



² New York Post. Sea Drone Captures Rare Close-Up of Chinese Warship Near Philippines https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eDXPgYurCo


³ Reuters. US drone films Chinese warship in Philippines' waters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2VUWy7Rcts


⁴ APT. US Firm's Autonomous Sea Drone Records Chinese Destroyer In Philippine Waters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVLL0TZpFY


⁵ South China Morning Post. Are commercial sea drones new headache for PLA in South China Sea and Taiwan? https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3362790/are-commercial-sea-drones-new-headache-pla-south-china-sea-and-taiwan-strait?pgtype=live


⁶ Inquirer. AFP aware of reported Chinese warship in EEZ https://www.inquirer.net/482979/afp-aware-of-reported-chinese-warship-in-eez




⁹ Sea Machines. SELKIE USV Validated in the West Philippine Sea During ... https://sea-machines.com/selkie-usv-validated-in-the-west-philippine-sea-during-tropical-winter-100


¹⁰ PNA. Various gov't agencies patrol WPS: task force https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138270


¹¹ Inquirer. 2 Chinese research ships now at Scarborough days after collision https://www.inquirer.net/453244/2-chinese-research-ships-now-at-scarborough-days-after-collision


¹² The State Council The People's Republic of China. Unmanned devices tested in South China Sea. https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202507/11/content_WS68710798c6d0868f4e8f41b3.html


¹³ The Diplomat. Unmanned Systems in China's Maritime 'Gray Zone ... https://thediplomat.com/2023/01/unmanned-systems-in-chinas-maritime-gray-zone-operations


¹⁴ Hood Federal. A ‘Game of Drones’ resets the rules in the South China Sea. https://hoodfederal.com/company/news/article/a-game-of-drones-resets-the-rules-in-the-south-china-sea


¹⁵ Tribune. AFP Monitored Over 20,000 Vessels in Philippine Waters in July, Tracks Chinese Ships in West Philippine Sea https://tribune.net.ph/2026/08/04/afp-monitored-over-20000-vessels-in-philippine-waters-in-july⁩

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