The Philippine Navy on Tuesday slammed China’s “complete disregard” for international laws by illegally deploying three of its gray ships, being operated by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), in the Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea. 

In a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo, Navy spokesperson Captain John Percie Alcos said the Philippine vessels repeatedly challenged the PLAN ships via radio intercommunications but China did not respond. 

“The presence of the PLAN in the area reflects the People’s Republic of China's complete disregard for international law and undermines the peace and stability in the region,” Alcos said. 

The Philippine Navy’s Naval Forces Northern Luzon (NFNL) was conducting regular patrols approximately 57 nautical miles southeast of Bajo de Masinloc on 3 February when the crew spotted three Chinese vessels. One of these was a guided missile Jiangkai II Class Frigate, “Dali” (FFG-553).

“The Naval Forces Northern Luzon, in support of the NOLCOM’s mission, continues to stand firm to conduct lawful maritime operations, expose, and challenge the illegal presence of Chinese vessels within the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ),” he said.

Aside from gray ships, Beijing has maintained the deployment of the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels near Philippine coastlines, recently loitering its so-called monster ship off the Zambales coast.