Chinese vessels try to intercept PH Navy warship in WPS

In an apparent move to flex its muscles in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), two China Coast Guard (CCG) ships and two Chinese maritime militia vessels sailed close to a Philippine Navy ship off Panganiban (Mischief) Reef in an attempt to “intercept” its patrol operations, authorities confirmed Saturday, Feb. 4.

Offshore patrol ship BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17) was conducting a patrol and search mission as it was circumnavigating Recto (Reed) Bank when it was “monitored and tailed” by CCG vessels with bow numbers 5204 and 5304, and maritime militia boats Qiong Sansha Yu 0001 and Qiong Lin Yu 19002 near Panganiban Reef. Both Panganiban Reef and Recto Bank are located within the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“The Chinese maritime militia ‘fishing vessels / boats’ even conducted an intercept course toward the Philippine Navy warship,” Commodore Armando Balilo, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman said.

According to Raymond Powell, head of Project Myoushu Team of Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation of Stanford University, the incident occurred on Wednesday, Feb. 1, just as US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was visiting the Philippines to reaffirm Washington’s commitment to support Manila amid China’s aggression in the WPS.

Balilo noted that based on an incident report they received, the BRP Andres Bonifacio stood its ground and continued its patrol operations in the WPS despite the tailing and monitoring of the Chinese vessels.

Powell said PCG’s Parola-class vessel BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) has been monitored in the area after BRP Andres Bonifacio left and completed its mission. The PCG has yet to confirm the deployment.

For its part, the Navy has yet to issue a statement on the incident.