The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) completed a two-day bilateral maritime exercise near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) despite being shadowed by four Chinese vessels throughout the activity.

The latest Philippines-United States Bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (BMCA), held from June 27 to 28, brought ships from the two allied countries as close as 50 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc, where a Chinese floating structure supposedly for marine scientific research had been removed but antennas and floating buoys remain.

The exercise was the fifth iteration of the bilateral MCA between Manila and Washington this year, and the first since China removed the floating structure on June 17.

Participating AFP assets included BRP Antonio Luna (FFG15) – the Philippine Navy vessel that first confirmed the presence of the illegal floating structure by China – with its AW109 naval helicopter, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV 9702) and BRP Capones (MRRV 4404), while the USPACOM deployed the US Coast Guard cutters USCGC Charles Moulthrope (WPC 1141) and USCGC Emlen Tunnell (WPC 1145).

The participating forces carried out communication exercises, division tactics and officer of the watch maneuvers, photo exercises, search and rescue drills, and maritime domain awareness activities.

Meanwhile, a People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Jiangkai-class frigate with bow number “555” and three China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels monitored the participating ships during the exercise.

However, a senior AFP official said the Chinese vessels did not interfere with any of the activities.

Captain Jennifer Monforte, commanding officer of BRP Antonio Luna, said the continued presence of Chinese vessels has become routine during Philippine patrols in the area.

“We always detect 555. It is the one that regularly follows us whenever we conduct patrols," Monforte said.

“We will maintain our presence in the area and fulfill the AFP's directive to further intensify patrols near Bajo de Masinloc,” he added.

The Chinese frigate continued to trail the Philippine and US vessels during the two-day exercise. The three CCG ships also remained within the exercise area but despite their presence, all major activities proceeded as planned.

The AFP said rough seas and bad weather posed a greater challenge than the Chinese vessels. Some activities originally planned for a third day were cancelled because of the deteriorating weather associated with a developing weather disturbance that may affect Central Luzon.

The AFP said the bilateral exercise still achieved its objectives despite the weather conditions, and noted that the activity demonstrated the ability of Philippine and US forces to operate together while reinforcing security cooperation in the West Philippine Sea.