ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Western Mindanao Command here has confirmed the passage of two Navy vessels of the Chinese People's Liberation Army in the sea of Zamboanga City and Basilan province last Thursday, June 6.
Major Orlando Ayllon, Western Mindanao Command Public Information Officer, identified the vessels as training ship Qi Jiguang and amphibious craft Jinggang Shan.
Ayllon said the vessels were spotted by the Western Mindanao Command Littoral Mission Monitoring Station at around 1:30 p.m. passing by the Basilan Strait, a strait of water separating the island province of Basilan from Zamboanga Peninsula.
Ayllon said the ship responded to their challenge call, stating that they were on transit to Dalian, China from a training activity and goodwill visit in Timor Leste.
The two vessels were escorted by the Philippine Navy’s BRP Domingo Deluana and took two hours to navigate the strait.
Ayllon said the two Chinese vessels were exercising the right of innocent passage, the Basilan Strait being a recognized international sea lane regularly used by container and cargo ships and Navy vessels from other countries.