3 Chinese ships spotted off Bajo de Masinloc
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy on Monday spotted three Chinese People's Liberation Navy (PLN) vessels in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The Chinese ships were monitored through the Philippine Navy's Naval Forces Northern Luzon, Public Affairs Officer Ens Cyrus Anthony Ramos said.
In a statement, Ramos said that the three Chinese vessels were sighted by the BRP Jose Rizal 57 nautical miles southwest of Bajo de Masinloc.
BRP Jose Rizal's skipper immediately warned them off and issued consecutive radio challenges.
One of the Chinese navy ships was identified as a guided missile Jiangkai III Class Frigate, «Dali» (FFG-553).
The Northern Luzon Command, through the Naval Forces Northern Luzon (NFNL), conducted regular Maritime and Sovereignty Patrol and monitored the presence of China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) ships in the WPS, Ramos said.
Over the weekend, the Philippine Coast Guard's BRP Teresa Magbanua shooed away the Chinese Coast Guard Monster ship 170 nautical miles still inside Philippine EEZ.
AdvertisementThe PCG said it will continue to monitor the movement of the Chinese vessels and will continue to push away the intruders from the Philippine's nearest coastline.