THREE Chinese vessels performed aggressive and unsafe maneuvers against a Philippine Navy ship conducting routine and lawful maritime patrol operations in support of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Bajo de Masinloc.
In a statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said two Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) Jiangkai II-class frigates (Type 054A), with bow numbers 554 and 573, along with a China Coast Guard vessel (5403), "posed a direct threat to the safety of navigation" of the BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS35) at approximately 11.8 nautical miles southeast of Bajo de Masinloc on May 5.
“The Chinese frigate BN 554 was documented tailing PS35 at close range, while BN 573 dangerously crossed its bow in a high-risk maneuver that created the danger of collision. China Coast Guard vessel 5403 also attempted to obstruct PS35’s navigational path,” the AFP said.
It said the aggressive maneuvers of Chinese vessels violated the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (Colregs).
The AFP expressed serious concern over the irresponsible actions by Chinese maritime forces, noting that such threatening and provocative conduct can lead to misunderstanding that may escalate tensions and impact regional stability.
“We commend the professionalism, discipline and restraint of the Philippine Navy personnel aboard BRP Emilio Jacinto,” the AFP said.
“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. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)