The Philippine Navy is monitoring two vessels of the Chinese People's Liberation Army-Navy spotted in separate locations off Northern Luzon.
In a report by RH Edniel Parrosa, Philippine Navy spokesperson Capt. John Percie Alcos revealed that one of the vessels observed was the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong (CV-17), reaching as close as 2.23 nautical miles from Babuyan Island on April 22.
At the same time, a Type 815A electronic surveillance ship was sighted approximately 33 nautical miles northwest of Dalupiri Island.
Moreover, Alcos noted that this marked the first instance of the aircraft carrier Shandong being monitored in the said area.
Despite the sighting, the official clarified that the Babuyan Channel is a recognized maritime corridor, and it is not unusual for foreign vessels to pass through the area.
Nonetheless, Naval Forces Northern Luzon deployed assets to monitor the said warship.
As of the Navy’s most recent monitoring, the Shandong was last observed 179.6 nautical miles off the eastern coast of Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
