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Jean Mangaluz - Philstar.com
December 24, 2025 | 4:02pm
A People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warship loiters off the coast of Zambales on Dec. 17, 2025.
Philippine Navy / Release
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy (PN) responded to a Chinese warship caught loitering in the waters of Zambales, sending two ships to assert the country’s rights over its sovereign waters.
In a statement, the PN said that on December 17, it received reports of a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warship within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), off the waters of Zambales.
The warship was a PLAN Jiangkai II (Type 054A)–class frigate, bow number 569. Upon receiving the report, the Navy deployed BRP Emilio Jacinto to validate the information.
After the Navy confirmed the presence of the Chinese warship, the BRP Diego Silang was also deployed as reinforcement.
The two Philippine ships repeated radio challenges, asserting the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The PN said that it “maintained professional and measured posture while firmly asserting Philippine sovereign rights.”
“The foreign warship is currently being escorted in a controlled and non-escalatory manner,” the Navy stated.
The Navy said that its response was part of routine maritime security operations to protect national security and territorial integrity.
China has habitually disregarded the Philippines' EEZ, claiming most of the South China Sea for itself. Despite the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in favor of Manila, Beijing regularly sends ships into the West Philippine Sea.
Beijing even injured three Filipino civilian fisherfolk after it hit the latter's vessel with a water cannon. The incident has been slammed both by the Philippines and several other allies, including the United States.
