U.S. to Deploy Four Watercraft to Support Protection of PH Territorial Waters

a United States fast response cutter

The United States (U.S.) has vowed to deploy four of its fast response cutters to reinforce patrol and security of the Philippine exclusive economic zone (E.E.Z.).

The commitment came as U.S. Department of War undersecretary Elbridge Colby, during his remarks at an event hosted by Stratbase Institute on 10 August 2026, commended the Philippines for boosting the strength and capabilities of its military and coast guard.

“We are backing up those investments with concrete, visible support, including the rotational deployment of four fast response cutters to actively partner with the Philippine Coast Guard in patrolling and securing your exclusive economic zone,” pledged Colby.

“By strengthening our joint posture, we are ensuring that both our nations possess the hard capabilities required to deter aggression,” he added.

Undersecretary Elbridge Colby, Department of War, United States

The U.S. Coast Guard presently has 223 cutters.

The U.S.’s commitment is a welcome aid to Philippine maritime patrol amid China's unlawful, yet forceful claim on vast waters in the South China Sea, which overlaps with the Philippine E.E.Z.

The Philippines sustains its passive stance in dealing with Chinese provocation and aggression over the disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea despite the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, Netherlands trashing China’s sweeping territorial claims and ruling in favor of the Philippines. This spineless posture lies as a reluctant option for the Philippines in light of China’s entrenched foothold in the Philippine economy and, more significantly, overwhelming military strength.

A considerable number of abusive, injurious, and harmful incidents with Chinese Coast Guard have been reported, for which the Philippine government filed countless diplomatic protests before international governing bodies. These aggressions range from axing a Philippine Navy soldier’s thumb; routine blasting of water canon to Filipino fishermen, navy, and coast guard; ramming of Filipino ships and boats; puncturing Philippine Navy’s inflatable boats; and, most recently, injuring a Philippine Navy serviceman’s head by baton strike.