The Philippine Navy on Monday said the Chinese ships were seen “meandering” in waters off Batanes on August 7, Philippine media reported.
Batanes is an archipelago located closer to southern Taiwan than to Manila and sits within the Bashi Channel – a critical maritime chokepoint that would have strategic significance in the event of a conflict over Taiwan.
Analysts said Beijing appeared to be ramping up its presence in the waterway to deter the Philippines from intervening in any such conflict.
Tensions between the two countries have been rising over the disputed Scarborough Shoal, known as the Huangyan Island in China. On Monday, a China Coast Guard vessel collided with a PLA Navy destroyer while trying to expel Philippine vessels from the area.
China commented on the reported incident for the first time on Friday, with its Ministry of Defence blaming Philippine vessels for “dangerous manoeuvres such as high-speed ramming, sharp turns and crossing in front of Chinese vessels, creating a complex and urgent situation at sea and seriously infringing upon China’s sovereignty and rights”.
