Chinese ships confront Phl Navy near Bajo de Masinloc

Three Chinese vessels "aggressively and unsafely" engaged in a confrontation with a Philippine Navy ship near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Thursday.

On 5 May, while the Philippine Navy’s BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS35) was conducting routine and lawful maritime patrol operations in support of a joint mission with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) within Philippine waters, two Jiangkai II-class (Type 054A) frigates of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (with bow numbers 554 and 573), along with China Coast Guard vessel 5403, executed aggressive and unsafe maneuvers against the Philippine warship.

The AFP said a Chinese frigate, BN 554, was documented tailing BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS35) at close range, while frigate BN 573 dangerously crossed PS35's bow in a high-risk maneuver, posing a collision threat.

Meanwhile, China Coast Guard vessel 5403 attempted to block PS35’s intended navigational route.

The AFP lamented the hostilities of the Chinese warships and coast guard vessels.

"These reckless actions not only posed a direct threat to the safety of navigation of PS35, but also violated the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs)," it noted.

The Philippine military also expressed "serious concern" over the irresponsible conduct by the Chinese maritime forces.

"Such threatening and provocative conduct can lead to misunderstanding that may escalate tensions and impact regional stability," it said.

Further, the military lauded the display of professionalism, discipline, and restraint of the Philippine Navy personnel aboard BRP Emilio Jacinto.

"The AFP remains steadfast in defending the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the Philippines in its vast maritime domain, including its territorial seas in the West Philippine Sea, in accordance with international and domestic law and in pursuit of the rules-based order in the maritime domain," it added.

Further, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said this is not the first time a Chinese gray ship has engaged in such actions, including crossing the bow.

"A similar incident involving gray ships occurred about two years ago," Trinidad told reporters in a phone interview.

He also emphasized that China's recent actions will not impact the AFP's maritime operations within Philippine waters and the country's exclusive economic zone.

"We have to show that this is part of our mandate, that's our territory, that's within our sovereignty, we have sovereign rights," he said.

The Philippines remains embroiled in a maritime dispute with China, which continues to assert sweeping claims over nearly the entire South China Sea—claims that were invalidated by a 2016 ruling from the United Nations-backed arbitral tribunal in a case initiated and won by the Philippine government.

Philippine vessels—mainly those operated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)—have been repeatedly subjected to harassment by Chinese coast guard ships and maritime militia forces, including the use of water cannons in several incidents.