The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has monitored the presence of Chinese warships at the Balabac Strait in Palawan.
AFP spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said they immediately responded to the incident by deploying military assets to challenge their presence within the Philippine territory which is commonly used by international vessels.
“As part of standard operating procedure, these vessels were challenged and they responded accordingly,” Trinidad said.
The two warships of Chinese People’s Liberation Army, destroyer Luyang and frigate Jiangkai, were monitored at 1:49 p.m. on June 19 around 12 nautical miles of Palawan and were moving at a speed of q13 knots.
At 3:56 p.m., two other vessels were monitored in the same area—destroyer Renhai (CG-105) and the replenishment oiler Fuchi (AOR-907), which were moving at a speed of 15 knots.
“Our capability to monitor and respond to such activities is a testament to our commitment to maritime domain awareness and the protection of our territory, sovereignty, and sovereign rights. Rest assured, the AFP remains vigilant in safeguarding our maritime interests,” said Trinidad.