Two People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) warships were sighted in the West Philippine Sea near Bajo de Masinloc during joint exercises involving the Philippines, the United States and Australia on Monday afternoon, the Philippine Navy reported Tuesday.

Navy Capt. John Percie Alcos, commanding officer of BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07), said the two Chinese warships were observed shadowing the 14th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA).

“These were People’s Liberation Army Navy warships,” he said.

Alcos added that the Philippine Navy vessel communicated with the Chinese ships.

“They did not challenge us,” he said.

Although the Chinese vessels did not assume formation or approach the participating naval ships, they remained at what observers described as a safe distance.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, who was also on board BRP Diego Silang, described the presence of the PLA Navy ships as illegal.

“Basically, these are illegal presences in the area. This will be submitted to the proper agency accordingly,” she said.

Highlights of the 14th MMCA

The AFP, alongside the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), completed the 14th Philippine-Australia-United States Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity on 15 to 16 February 2026, in the West Philippine Sea.

The two-day exercise reinforced multilateral cooperation and reflected the participating nations’ sustained commitment to strengthening maritime security in the region.

Philippine forces deployed a mix of air and naval assets, including BRP Diego Silang with an AW109 helicopter; Philippine Air Force FA-50 fighter jets, A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, C-208B aircraft and a Sokol search-and-rescue helicopter. The Philippine Coast Guard also participated with BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701).

The ADF deployed HMAS Towoomba (FFH 156) with an embarked MH-60R helicopter and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The US INDOPACOM sent USS Dewey (DDG 105) alongside a P-8A Poseidon aircraft.

Exercise activities included a communication exercise to refine coordination procedures; maritime domain awareness events to strengthen shared situational understanding; and division tactics to enhance maneuvering proficiency. A photo exercise, replenishment at sea and a concluding “hotwash” were also conducted to support transparency, improve logistics coordination and capture operational insights for future joint activities.

According to the AFP and the Philippine Navy, similar maritime cooperative activities will continue in the West Philippine Sea with allied nations.

The 14th MMCA marked the first multilateral maritime cooperative activity of the year, underscoring a shared multinational resolve to strengthen interoperability and uphold freedom of navigation and overflight under international law.