Chinese Navy ship spotted as PHL'S newest frigate launches 1st mission

A Chinese Navy ship was spotted during joint maritime drills between the Philippines and US on Wednesday, as Filipino sailors aboard the country's newest warship sought to familiarize themselves with the vessel alongside their counterparts to enhance interoperability.

- By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

A People's Liberation Army-Navy destroyer was seen monitoring the Philippine-US exercise in the South China Sea about 43 nautical miles (79 kilometers) west of the Zambales coast, Captain Paul Michael P. Hechanova, commander of BRP Miguel Malvar, said.

“We were able to detect it on our radar with a range of eight to 10 nautical miles [from the ship] using our sensors, our radar and our electro-optics system,” he told reporters aboard the ship after the sea drill on Wednesday evening. “They even launched their helicopter.”

“We were not hampered by their presence,” he added, noting that they wanted to maximize the opportunity to train alongside US forces.

The Philippines conducted a maritime patrol and exercise with the US in the South China Sea for the seventh time, deploying its newest warship — BRP Miguel Malvar — along with a Philippine Coast Guard vessel and helicopter.

The US sent a detachment of marines stationed in Zambales province and a sea reconnaissance plane as part of the drill's targeting exercises.