Two People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships were spotted near Bajo de Masinloc during the 14th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) involving the Philippines, Australia, and the United States.
The Chinese vessels kept their distance, did not form up with, nor approach, the participating ships, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday.
Sailors aboard the Philippine Navy’s newest guided‑missile frigate, BRP Diego Silang, observed the PLAN ships toward the latter part of the activity.
While foreign vessel movement is common in international waters, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla—who was also aboard the Diego Silang—described the presence of the Chinese ships as illegal.
“Basically, these are illegal presences in the area, so this will be submitted to the proper agency accordingly,” she said.
Before the sighting, the Diego Silang sailed from Naval Operating Base Subic to join the MMCA, which aims to strengthen maritime and defense cooperation among allied nations.
The exercises focused on interoperability and enhancing the Philippine Navy’s operational readiness, including missions in the West Philippine Sea.
According to the AFP, activities included communication drills, maritime domain awareness events, division tactics, a photo exercise, replenishment at sea, and a concluding “hotwash” to capture lessons for future joint operations.
