AFP monitoring deployment of bigger ships in SCS

SINGAPORE - The Armed Forces of the Philippines is monitoring the deployment of bigger ships in the South China Sea, AFP chief Romeo Brawner Jr. said on Friday.

Brawner said some foreign vessels in the region hinder freedom of navigation in the area. 

''Well, we are monitoring, we are continuously monitoring the deployment especially of the bigger ships,'' Brawner told reporters at the sidelines of the 2024 IISS Shangri-La Dialogue where President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. will deliver his keynote address.

''It gives us concern because of course we believe in the freedom of navigation and overflight in the region and so some of these vessels hinder that freedom of navigation that we should enjoy in the region,'' he added.

To recall, China Coast Guard 5901 known as "The Monster," the largest coast guard ship in the world, conducted a “brief intrusive patrol” near Scarborough Shoal last May 24, 2024.

“Over the past 24 hours the world's largest coast guard ship, the 165-meter China Coast Guard 5901, together with the 102-meter CCG 5203, conducted a brief intrusive patrol into the Philippines' EEZ west of Scarborough Shoal,” said US Air Force official and ex-Defence Attaché Ray Powell had said.

Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Roy Trinidad also confirmed that “The Monster” was located 50 nautical miles from Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc. —LDF, GMA Integrated News