HABANG nasa kasagsagan ng mga paghahanda para sa isasagawang joint RP-US Balikatan war exercises sa karagatang sakop ng Pilipinas, na-monitor ng Philippine Navy ang presensya ng dalawang China Warship kabilang dito ang kanilang pinakamalaking Aircraft carrier, sa hilagang Luzon.

Ayon kay Navy spokesman Captain John Percie Alcos, gamit ang kanilang Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, na-monitor nila ang presensya ng dalawang People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) vessels na naglalayag sa magkahiwalay na lokasyon sa northern coast ng Luzon noong Miyerkoles.

Nabatid na patuloy tinitiktikan ng NAVAL Forces Northern Luzon Command ang direksyong tinatahak ng aircraft carrier Shandong (CV-17).

Noong Miyerkoles, bandang alas-9:36 ng umaga, na-detect ang aircraft carrier Shandong (CV-17), may 2.23 nautical miles southwest ng Babuyan Island, na pasok sa Philippines’ archipelagic waters.

Habang bandang alas-11:47 AM, isang Type 815A Chinese electronic surveillance ship (AGI-797) ang nakita rin, may 33.11 nautical miles northwest ng Dalupiri Island, o 38.91 nautical miles hilagang kanluran ng Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Hindi naman umano nakababahala ang presensya ng 2 China warship sa karagatang sakop ng Pilipinas dahil namataan silang nagsasagawa ng normal naval operations habang naglalayag patungo sa kanilang specific destination.

Hindi naman kinumpirma ng Navy ang naunang ulat na nagsagawa rin ng maritime drill ang PLA Navy habang naglalayag sa loob ng Pilipinas.

“The Philippine Navy continues to uphold its mandate of maintaining maritime situational awareness to ensure safe navigation and adherence to international maritime norms. It remains committed to promoting regional stability through the responsible monitoring and reporting of maritime activities within the Philippine maritime domain,” ani Capt. Alcos.

“We expect a lot of vessels to transit that particular area, especially off the coast of the Babuyan Islands and Dalupiri island because it’s a recognized maritime corridor.

With the Balikatan exercises ongoing, we also expect several key players to be there also to monitor the exercise.

(JESSE KABEL RUIZ)