Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 15) – The Philippine Navy (PN) warned off a China People’s Liberation Army Navy ship after it shadowed and tried to cross the bow of a Filipino navy vessel during a resupply mission in the West Philippine Sea, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Sunday.
Last Friday, BRP Benguet led another resupply mission to Rizal Reef Station in the Spratly Islands when a Chinese vessel PLAN 621 shadowed the Filipino ship and tried to halt the navy’s path by crossing its bow, just 5.7 nautical miles southwest of Pag-asa island.
The Chinese military vessel at its closest point of approach was just 350 yards away from the Philippine Navy ship.
In response, the Philippine Navy issued a radio challenge to the Chinese military vessel.
\”The PN crew cited the violation of the Collision Regulations in its radio challenges, and demanded that the Chinese vessel to steer clear of the BRP Benguet,\” the AFP said.
“The Philippine Naval ship received a counter-response from PLAN 621 using their so-called and patently baseless ‘ten-dash line’ narrative,” it added.
The military did not disclose the outcome of the incident. CNN Philippines has contacted the PN and the AFP for more details.
AFP Western Command chief Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos condemned China’s latest aggression within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, stressing that their navy’s dangerous maneuvers “pose significant risks to maritime safety, collision prevention, and danger to human lives at sea.”
“China must immediately halt these unsafe actions and conduct themselves in a professional manner by adhering to international law,” he said.
China last month also tried to interrupt the Philippines’ resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, but it was unsuccessful.
