The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed Tuesday that Chinese military forces conducted naval drills near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea on July 31 and August 1, prompting military leaders to urge national unity in defending Philippine sovereignty.
According to AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, five People’s Liberation Army Navy warships, a replenishment ship, two hovercraft, two helicopters, and fighter aircraft were monitored during the exercise.
China’s Southern Theater Command defended the drills as necessary due to actions by other nations threatening regional peace.
The Chinese maneuvers occurred shortly after the completion of the 17th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) from July 21 to 25. The joint exercise—which featured forces from the Philippines, the U.S., and Japan—included the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group, naval and coast guard vessels, and various aircraft.
Trinidad clarified that the MMCA was planned well in advance and noted that nearby Chinese ships did not interfere with the operations.
During a maritime patrol over Bajo de Masinloc on August 1, a Philippine Air Force F-27 aircraft faced radio challenges from Chinese forces, to which Philippine personnel asserted national sovereignty over the waters.
“After numerous false narratives by the Chinese Communist Party about conducting drills in Bajo de Masinloc, the AFP was able to monitor on July 31 and Aug. 1 the conduct of drills by the PLA Navy consisting of five warships, one replenishment ship, two hovercraft, two helicopters, and an unidentified number of fighter aircraft,” Trinidad told reporters.
“The illegal presence of the PLA Navy, the Chinese Coast Guard, and the maritime militia in our waters is being constantly challenged not only by the Air Force, not only by the Navy, but by the AFP in general,” Trinidad said.
Despite the recent activity, the AFP reported that overall Chinese vessel counts in the West Philippine Sea remained stable through July, with 48 ships tracked across strategic areas including Bajo de Masinloc, Ayungin Shoal, Pag-asa Islands, and Escoda Shoal.