US sends destroyer, combat ship to Bajo de Masinloc

Two days after the collision of two Chinese vessels, the United States deployed two of its naval ships to Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Wednesday, Aug. 13, as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) deployed an aircraft for a patrol operation, only to be intercepted by a Chinese fighter jet.

- By MARTIN SADONGDONG and RAYMUND ANTONIO

The USS Higgins (DDG-76), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, and USS Cincinnati (LCS-20), an Independence-class littoral combat ship, performed freedom of navigation and overflight patrol around Bajo de Masinloc.

The US Navy ships' presence came after the Aug. 11 collision between China Coast Guard (CCG) ship with bow number "3104" and People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) destroyer with tail number "164" while chasing PCG vessel BRP Suluan near the shoal.

The US vessels were tailed by a PLA-Navy ship with tail number "568", according to PCG spokesperson for WPS, Commodore Jay Tarriela.

The movements of the US Navy ships were confirmed when the PCG, on the orders of its commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, deployed its Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft to conduct a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight over Bajo de Masinloc.