By Priam Nepomuceno | Philippine News Agency
The Philippine Navy (PN) on Thursday announced that it detected the presence of two China People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels off the northern coast of Luzon last April 22.
In a statement, the PN said the presence of these two ships was spotted with the help of its “intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.”
The PLAN vessels were seen operating in separate locations, it added.
In a message to the Philippine News Agency, PN Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong was first detected at about 3:00 a.m., some 101.3 nautical miles (NM) off Burgos, Ilocos Norte.
At about 9:36 a.m., the vessel was spotted at about 2.23 NM southwest of Babuyan Island, well within the Philippines’ archipelagic waters.
He added that the most recent confirmed position of the Chinese aircraft carrier as of Wednesday was at 179.6 NM east of Patunungan town in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
The Shandong is described as a “short take-off, barrier arrested recovery” (STOBAR) aircraft carrier of around 60,000 tons with a top speed of 31 knots.
The ship measures 305 meters and has a beam of 75 meters. It is capable of carrying 30 aircraft.
At about 11:47 a.m. on the same day, a Type 815A Chinese electronic surveillance ship (AGI-797) was also monitored around 33.11 nautical miles northwest of Dalupiri Island, or about 38.91 nautical miles northwest of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.
“The PN 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,” it added.
