Manila: The Philippine Navy (PN) on Thursday reported the monitoring of two Chinese warships near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
According to Philippines News Agency, the two warships, belonging to China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), were detected 40 nautical miles southeast of Bajo de Masinloc, as stated by PN spokesperson for the WPS, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad. Trinidad informed reporters that these vessels were observed during the 10th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA), which involved the US Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, and the PN. The naval exercises took place on September 2 to 3 off Zambales.
Trinidad clarified that the Chinese ships were seen trailing the international task group but were not participating in any surface maneuvers or synchronized activities that would suggest a joint patrol, contradicting claims by the Southern Theater Command. One of the Chinese vessels was identified as a Luyang-class guided-missile destroyer, while the other was a Jiangkai-class frigate. Further information was withheld for security purposes.
Senior Colonel Tian Junli, spokesperson for PLAN's Southern Theater Command, asserted in a Global Times report that their naval forces were conducting routine patrols in response to a joint patrol by the Philippines, Australia, and Canada. Trinidad countered this by stating that such claims are part of China's influence operations aimed at justifying their unauthorized presence within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, is situated 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, and falls within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile EEZ.
