ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command is monitoring three Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy vessels expected to pass by Basilan Strait and Sibutu Passage toward the Sulu Sea.

THE Western Mindanao Command is monitoring three CPLA Navy ships on the way to the Sulu Sea. (Photo via Liza Jocson)

The Wesmincom identified the vessels as a Renhai class cruiser guided missile, a Jiankai class frigate II, and a Type 903 Fuchi class replenishment oiler.

These vessels were first monitored in the West Philippine Sea on Feb. 2 and navigated through Mindoro Strait toward Sulu Sea.

The three ships were outside the Basilan Strait as of 4:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3.

As archipelagic sea lanes of communications, these passages allow the transit of vessels of other nation states subject to their compliance with national and international laws and procedures governing transit and innocent passage.

It was observed however that the vessels entered the area without prior diplomatic coordination and maintained an “unusually slow speed” of about four to five knots.

“This is not consistent with the principles of innocent passage which requires continuous and expeditious passage and that the vessel should not linger in archipelagic waters longer than necessary,” the Wesmincom added.

Acting on the report and in accordance with the integrated rules of engagement and AFP joint maritime standard operating procedures, Joint Task Force Poseidon, Wesmincom’s lead maritime security arm, dispatched Philippine Navy vessels to shadow the Chinese boats.

The Wesmincom also deployed two Philippine Air Force aircraft, the C-208 and Nomad N22, to monitor them.

The CPLA Navy vessels responded and invoked freedom of navigation and innocent passage. The Philippine Navy is continuously tracking the movement of the Chinese vessels as of posting time.