The West Philippine Sea, a crucial maritime region, witnessed a surge in tensions as two Chinese warships were observed shadowing fleets from the Unit

Chinese Warships Seen Stalking US, PH, and France Fleet During Drills in West Philippine Sea

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2024-04-30 10:30:02

The West Philippine Sea, a crucial maritime region, witnessed a surge in tensions as two Chinese warships were observed shadowing fleets from the United States, the Philippines, and France during recent maritime drills.

According to reports from naval officials, the Chinese vessels have been closely monitoring the movements of naval assets from the US, the Philippines, and France as they conducted 'joint exercises' in the WPS. These exercises, which also involved various types of naval vessels and aircraft, were aimed at enhancing interoperability and coordination among the allied forces.

The vessels, marked People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) warships with bow numbers 793 and 167, were not engaging with the naval vessels but were following closely, said Armed Forces of the Philippines' Western Command spokesperson Capt. Ariel Coloma.

The West Philippine Sea, which encompasses vital shipping lanes and is believed to contain significant oil and gas reserves, has been a flashpoint of tensions between China and its neighbouring countries, including the Philippines and Vietnam.