The Philippine Navy said Wednesday that it deployed two warships to escort a People’s Liberation Army–Navy (PLA-N) frigate that was spotted loitering off Capones Island in Zambales last week.
According to the Navy, “members of the local maritime community” reported on Dec. 17 the presence of a PLA-N Jiangkai II class frigate with bow number 569 approximately 41 nautical miles southwest of Capones Island in the West Philippine Sea.
Philippine Navy’s BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35) under Naval Task Force 11 of the Northern Luzon Naval Command (NLNC) has been deployed to conduct maritime patrol operations and verify the report.
Upon confirmation of the Chinese presence, the Philippine Navy also sent BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07).
Both warships issued a radio warning against the Chinese frigate, which, the Navy said, “had been loitering within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone without clarifying their intention and purpose.”
“The foreign warship is currently being escorted in a controlled and non-escalatory manner,” the Northern Luzon Naval Command (NLNC) said in a statement.
“Throughout the encounter, Philippine Navy ships maintained a professional and measured posture while firmly asserting Philippine sovereign rights,” the NLNC added.
The PLA-N warship’s presence occurred relatively near the Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal, which became one of the flashpoints of tension between Manila and Beijing.
The Philippine Navy emphasizes that such actions are part of routine maritime security operations aimed at protecting national security and territorial integrity,” it said.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines, through the Philippine Navy and the Northern Luzon Naval Command, remains steadfast in its commitment in maintaining peace, stability, and freedom of navigation within the Philippines’ maritime domain, in accordance with international law,” it added.
Through its “10-dash line,” Beijing claims sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, but Manila brought the matter to an international court, which effectively ruled in favor of its sovereign rights in 2016.
The arbitral tribunal also declared the Panatag Shoal a traditional fishing ground for the Philippines, China and Vietnam.
