The Philippine Navy invalidated circulating information that a Chinese vessel is currently sailing in the vicinity of Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte.
“These are not Chinese warships,” Naval Forces Southern Luzon Public Affairs Office Chief Lt. John Emmanuel Sison said Monday night.
“These are foreign vessels composed of the French Navy, US Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) that are conducting a naval exercise hosted by the French Navy in the Philippine Sea dubbed as ‘Exercise Pacific Steller 2025, which started last February 8, 2025,” he added.
The exercise is a multi-large-deck event (MLDE) designed to advance coordination and cooperation among French, Japanese and US maritime forces.
The activity involves the following vessels, which were first reported on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025 at approximately 109 nautical miles northeast of Polillio Island:
US Navy
- USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) Nimitz-class carrier
- USS Princeton (CG-59) Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser
- USS Sterrett (DDG-104) Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer
- USS William P Lawrence (DDG-110) Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer
USS Emory S Land (AS-39) submarine tender
Japan (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force)
- JS Kaga (DDH-184) helicopter carrier
- JS Akizuki (DD-115) Akizuki-class destroyer
France (French Navy)
- FS Charles De Gaulle (R-91) aircraft carrier
As part of the scenario of the said exercise, the French Navy posed as enemy vessels.
According to the US Pacific Fleet, this exercise is to promote a free, open and stable Indo-Pacific space for the benefit of French populations, interests, and those of their regional partners, within the framework of international law.
“The Philippine Navy through the Naval Forces Southern Luzon remain vigilant in monitoring and patrolling our maritime seas for the safety and security of our people,” Sison said.