Four Chinese vessels were monitored shadowing a recent Philippine–United States Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) conducted near Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal.
According to a report by RH Edniel Parrosa, the vessels included a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) frigate with bow number 555 and three China Coast Guard (CCG) ships.
It marked the first such joint activity in the area near Scarborough Shoal, following the removal of a floating illegal structure previously found within the shoal.
According to maritime monitoring reports, Chinese vessels monitored the activity for two consecutive days. The targets of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Coast Guard were to approach within 20 nautical miles of Bajo de Masinloc. However, they did not reach that range, remaining approximately 50 nautical miles from the traditional fishing grounds when Chinese vessels were already present in the area.
With worsening weather conditions, they eventually withdrew from the operation.
The Philippine Navy confirmed that the Chinese ships were detected by the radar of the BRP Antonio Luna during the exercise.
Captain Jennifer Monforte, commanding officer of BRP Antonio Luna, said the presence of Chinese vessels did not disrupt the activity.
“Ganun pa rin sila karami kapag lumalapit kami dito, kagaya ngayon apat yung sumusunod sa atin barko nila tatlong coast guard, at isang frigate,” Monforte said.
The MCA, conducted by Philippine and US forces, included division tactics drills, photo exercises, and search and rescue simulations.
Some planned activities were cut short, not due to the presence of Chinese vessels, but because of worsening weather conditions and the potential development of Typhoon “Henry,” which affected sea conditions west of Zambales.
Despite the shortened schedule, Monforte said the exercise reinforced maritime presence in the area.
“Na-me-maintain namin ang presence sa area at natutupad namin ang sinabi ng AFP na paigtingin pa ang pagpapatrol sa Bajo de Masinloc,” she said.
