Military ”confirms” incident with Chinese vessel in West Philippine Sea

April 23, 2020

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command chief Vice Admiral Rene Medina confirmed the "hostile" act of a Chinese vessel against a Philippine Navy ship patrolling in West Philippine Sea last February.

"The Western Command confirms that the incident happened on February 17, 2020 through the report received from the Joint Task Force West (JTFW) and as revealed by the Commanding Officer of BRP Conrado Yap (PS39)," said Medina.

The Department of Foreign Affairs based a diplomatic protest against China on Wednesday over the incident.

Medina said according to Joint Task Force West, "PS39 departed Puerto Princesa City Pier on February 15, 2020 to conduct territorial defense operations  and sovereignty patrol at Malampaya natural gas to power project and at the Kalayaan Island Group."

"On February 17, 2020, while PS39 is underway to Rizal Reef Detachment, they detected a radar contact of a gray colored vessel," he said.

Medina said PS39 first issued a radio challenge on a gray ship identified as a corvette warship of People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel bearing a bow number 514.

During the challenge, Medina said the Chinese warship responded saying “the Chinese government has imputable sovereignty over the South China Sea, its islands and its adjacent waters."

"PS39 again challenged the vessel and then instructed to proceed directly to its next destination. That vessel repeated its response and maintained her course and speed," he said.

Medina said "PS39 was able to visually observe  that the gun control director, an equipment that gives information in obtaining a fire control solution of said PLAN vessel, was directed towards PS39."

"This gun control director can be used to designate and track targets and makes all the main guns ready to fire in under a second," he said.

"According to Joint Task Force West, while PS39 does not have the electronic support measures (ESM) to confirm that PLAN gun control director was directed towards her, visual identification confirms this hostile intent," said Medina.

"This hostile act on the part of Chinese Government and encroachment within the Philippines’ EEZ (exclusive economic zone) is perceived as a clear violation of international law and Philippine Sovereignty," he added.

Despite the incident, Medina assures that the "Western Command as the AFP’s primary unit in the West Philippine Sea will continue to perform its duty and will never be intimidated nor let our guard  down in protecting the sovereignty and integrity of the Philippines." Robina Asido/DMS