2 China warships spotted amid joint exercises near Bajo de Masinloc

Two Chinese warships were seen near Bajo de Masinloc during joint military drills of the Philippines, Australia, Canada, and the United States in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Philippine Navy reported Thursday.

Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said two People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels of China were spotted 40 nautical miles southeast of Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal or Panatag Shoal.

"Maritime domain awareness monitoring by the Philippine Navy showed 2 PLAN warships, a Luyang Class Guided Missile Destroyer and a Jiangkai Class Frigate, in the general vicinity 40 nautical miles southeast of Bajo de Masinloc," he told reporters in a message. 

"These ships were monitored during the conduct of the 10th (Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity) involving the US Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, and the Philippine Navy," he added.

Trinidad dismissed the claims of the Chinese military that the PLAN ships were conducting a "routine patrol" and that the joint patrols with the Philippines supposedly undermine regional peace and stability.

"They were observed following the international task group and were not conducting any surface serials or synchronized movement that would generally indicate a joint patrol contrary to publications by the Southern Theater Command," Trinidad said.

"Such messages are part of their malign influence operations to justify their illegal presence in the country's (exclusive economic zone)," he added.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, militaries from the Philippines, Australia, Canada, and the US conducted joint exercises in the WPS as part of the 10th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA).

For the activity, the Philippines' deployed BRP Jose Rizal (FF150), supported by an AW159 helicopter, a SAR Sokol aircraft, and a C-208B surveillance platform.

Australia sent HMAS Brisbane (DDG41) and P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft; Canada its HMCS Ville de Quebéc (FFH332), and CH-148 Cyclone; while the US its P-8A Poseidon.

Among the activities conducted by the four countries in the WPS were the following:

• Photo Exercise (PhotoEx) 
• Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) 
• Personnel Exchange 
• Coordinated Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise (CASEX C2 Reverse)
• Passing Exercise (PASSEX)

Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal is located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, and is considered within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

China has refused to recognize the decision. — VDV, GMA Integrated News