THE Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed on Thursday, April 23, reports about a Chinese warship pointing a gun control director at a Philippine Navy vessel in the West Philippine Sea.
In a statement, the Wesmincom said the incident happened on February 17 while the BRP Conrado Yap (PS39) was patrolling the Malampaya Natural Gas to Power Project (MNGPP) and the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the waters of Palawan.
“While PS39 is underway to Rizal Reef Detachment, they detected a radar contact of a gray colored vessel. PS39 was first to issue radio challenge on which the vessel responded ‘the Chinese government has imputable sovereignty over the South China Sea, its islands and its adjacent waters.’ PS39 again challenged the vessel and then instructed to proceed directly to its next destination. That vessel repeated its response and maintained her course and speed,” the Wesmincom said.
The said Chinese vessel was identified as People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) corvette warship bearing bow number 514.
Troops have observed that the gun control director, an equipment that gives information in obtaining a fire control solution of said PLAN vessel was directed towards PS39. The said equipment can be used to designate and track targets and makes all the main guns ready to fire in under a second.
“According to Joint Task Force West, while PS39 does not have the Electronic Support Measures (ESM) to confirm that PLAN Gun Control Director was directed towards her, visual identification confirms this hostile intent,” the Wesmincom said.
“This hostile act on the part of Chinese Government and encroachment within the Philippines’ EEZ is perceived as a clear violation of international law and Philippine Sovereignty,” it added.
Both vessels continued with their respective voyages after the incident.
Earlier, Foreign Affairs secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the Philippines sent two diplomatic protests to the Chinese Embassy in Manila on Wednesday, including one regarding the said gun pointing incident.
Locsin said the Chinese actions violated international laws and Philippine sovereignty. (SunStar Philippines)