Chinese military disputes Manila’s version of South China Sea naval crossing

Beijing and Manila have exchanged barbs over the transit of a Chinese destroyer fleet in the Basilan Strait, which separates the Philippine islands of Mindanao and Basilan, in a continuing escalation of bilateral tensions in the South China Sea.

Senior Colonel Tian Junli, from the People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theatre Command, said on Monday that Chinese naval and air forces transited the strait for distant-sea training.

“The operation strictly adhered to safe, standardised, and professional practices, fully complying with international law and norms,” the PLA spokesman said.

In his statement, Tian accused Manila of distorting the routine transit to stir tensions and argued that such actions undermined the navigational rights of China and other nations.

Tian’s remarks, which were posted on the command’s official social media account, followed Philippine officials voicing their concerns over Chinese warships near their territory.

According to local media reports, the Western Mindanao Command claimed to be tracking three PLA Navy vessels – a Type 055 destroyer, a Type 054A frigate, and a Type 903 replenishment ship – in what it described as “Philippine waters” on Sunday.