Philippine Navy spots 2 PLA Navy vessels near Bajo de Masinloc during maritime drills

The Philippine Navy monitored two People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessels near Bajo de Masinloc during the 10th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) conducted from September 2 to 3.

These Chinese warships were observed 40 nautical miles southeast of Bajo de Masinloc.

According to AFP spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the PLA Navy warships followed the international task group, which included the US Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Australian Navy.

Trinidad stated that the Chinese vessels did not participate in any activities that would indicate a joint patrol.

He also stressed that claims from the PLA Southern Theater Command about conducting patrols in response to the exercises are part of malign influence operations to justify their illegal presence in the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The AFP has debunked China's claim of conducting a 'routine patrol' and stated that the Chinese warships were shadowing the drills.