2 Chinese warships spotted in Basilan Strait, AFP says

Two Chinese vessels from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) were seen passing through Basilan Strait within the Zamboanga Peninsula on Thursday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Friday.

In a statement, AFP public affairs office chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad said the Naval Forces Western particularly sighted PLAN’s training ship with bow number 83 and amphibious transport dock with bow number 999.

“In accordance with standard operating procedure, the AFP dispatched BRP Domingo Deluana (PG905) to shadow/monitor the passage of the two PLA Navy vessels. Our escorting vessel also issued a standard challenge to the Chinese warships,” Trinidad said.

“One of the vessels, Qi Jiquang (BN 83) responded that it was conducting normal navigation from its last port of call in Dili, Timor Leste en route to Dalian, China,” he added.

While Basilan Strait is recognized as an international sea lane where innocent passage of other countries is allowed, Trinidad pointed out that the AFP will keep its vigilance to secure the Philippine waters.

“The AFP remains vigilant in monitoring all activities within our maritime zones and is committed to ensuring the safety and security of our waters,” he said.

“We continue to uphold international maritime laws while safeguarding our territorial integrity,” Trinidad added.

Tension between the Philippines and China has intensified in the past months following maritime incidents in the West Philippine Sea, notably the harassment by Chinese vessels of Philippines vessels performing resupply missions.

China has accused the Philippines of illegally entering into its territorial waters.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Its territorial claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.

Parts of the waters within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone have been renamed West Philippine Sea. 

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in the Hague said China’s claim over the West Philippine Sea has no legal basis, but Beijing did not honor the decision. —KBK, GMA Integrated News