China Navy ship tails PH Navy during patrol in West Philippine Sea 

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The BRP Andres Bonifacio issues a challenge to a Chinese ship as it sails close to Panata Island 

VICINITY OF PANATA SHOAL, Philippines — A Philippine Navy ship conducting maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea was tailed by a Chinese Navy vessel on Friday morning, June 6. 

The BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS17) was sailing 6.4 nautical miles off Panata Island, a Philippine-controlled feature in the West Philippine Sea or part of the South China Sea that covers the Philippine exclusive economic zone and waters surrounding features it claims. 

At around 7:40 am, the Bonifacio monitored the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) vessel with bow number 525, Ma’anshan–Jiangkai Class Frigate, sailing some 4.6 nautical miles from the Bonifacio. 

The Bonifacio issued a radio challenge to the PLAN vessel at around 7:59 am and received a reply at 8:12 am.

It’s the first and closest encounter between the Bonifacio and a Chinese navy vessel in this days-long mission to patrol parts of the West Philippine sea, including Philippine-controlled features. Rappler is one of several media entities embedded in the mission. 

China claims almost all of the South China Sea, including waters that are within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and the territorial sea of features that are controlled and claimed by the Philippines as its territory. 

On Thursday, June 6, the Bonifacio and the media team on the ship visited Likas Island. 

The Philippines controls 9 features in the West Philippine Sea, including Likas and Panata in the Kalayaan Island Group, which is under the jurisdiction of the province of Palawan. – Rappler.com