The Philippine Navy's BRP JOSE RIZAL (FF150) monitors the presence of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) ship in the West Philippine Sea during a regular Maritime Patrol, Sovereignty Patrol, and Maritime Presence on February 03, 2025. Handout/Philippine NavyMANILA -- Philippine authorities are currently monitoring the presence of three Chinese Navy ships in the vicinity of the Sulu Sea.

The Western Mindanao Command, in a statement, said it is currently monitoring the movement of three Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessels that entered the waters of West Philippine Sea on February 2, and are navigating through Mindoro Strait towards Sulu Sea.

The three PLA vessels have been identified as one Renhai Class Cruiser Guided Missile, one Jiankai Class Frigate II, and one Type 903 Fuchi Class Replenishment Oiler.

According to WMC, although the transit of foreign vessels are allowed in these waters, the said Chinese vessels transited without prior diplomatic coordination, and are moving in an "unusually slow speed".

"This is not consistent with the principles of innocent passage which requires continuous and expeditious passage and that the vessel should not linger in archipelagic waters longer than necessary," the WMC added.

To ensure maritime security, the WMC deployed two Philippine Air Force aircrafts to monitor the passage of the Chinese vessels. It also dispatched Philippine Navy vessels to challenge and shadow the said Chinese vessels.

The littoral radars of the Philippine Navy are also continuously tracking the Chinese vessels, the WMC said.