FORMER Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers has urged Defense, Navy and Coast Guard officials to immediately verify, closely monitor and take appropriate action over the reported presence of four Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships off Hilabaan, Eastern Samar.
Barbers said the reported appearance of the Chinese naval formation should not be dismissed as an ordinary maritime development, particularly as the vessels reportedly include two Luyang III-class guided-missile destroyers and two Jiangkai II-class frigates operating in Philippine waters or their immediate vicinity.
The reported formation consists of Luyang III-class destroyers bearing hull numbers 159 and 133, and Jiangkai II-class frigates bearing hull numbers 537 and 535. Their reported presence assumes greater significance because of their reported movement pattern from the Philippine Sea.
“This is considerably different from reports of ordinary Chinese fishing vessels or maritime-militia ships in the West Philippine Sea. These are described as PLAN warships, equipped for functions including air defense, long-range strike and anti-submarine warfare.” Barbers said.
According to reports, the same or corresponding vessels were independently documented by Japan’s Joint Staff Office on August 22 transiting south through the Miyako Strait and subsequently entering the Philippine Sea.
The latest reports on the sightings of China warship’s in Samar, which appeared at the Manila Times and The Tribune papers on September 5, was attributed to Jose Antonio Goitia, a local national security/maritime security figure.
“This is precisely the kind of development that our defense and maritime authorities must watch very closely. We should know who these vessels are, where they are going, what they are doing and why they are operating in our vicinity,” Barbers said.
He stressed that vigilance should not be mistaken for provocation, saying the Philippines has every reason to maintain a clear and accurate maritime picture whenever foreign military vessels operate near areas of Philippine national interest.
Barbers called for the AFP, Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard to coordinate closely in verifying the reported sighting, documenting the vessels’ movements and determining whether their activities are consistent with international law and established maritime practices.
“We cannot afford to be complacent. We do not need to provoke anyone, but neither should we be caught sleeping while foreign warships move around our maritime neighborhood. Sovereignty begins with knowing what is happening in our own backyard—and having the capability and resolve to respond when necessary,” Barbers said.
The reported sighting of Chinese warships in Samar has prompted Barbers to renew his push to establish a naval installation in his home province under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) to secure the country’s eastern seaboard.
He said Surigao del Norte directly faces the Pacific Ocean and offers a strategic advantage with a natural outlet connecting to the West Philippine Sea.
“The site would protect territorial waters against foreign intruders, drug smugglers, and potential resource extraction targeting deep-sea deposits like deuterium along the eastern seaboard.”
There are currently nine designated EDCA locations across the Philippines, and they include: Basa Air Base (Pampanga); Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation (Nueva Ecija); Lumbia Airport / Air Base (Cagayan de Oro); Antonio Bautista Air Base (Puerto Princesa, Palawan); Benito Ebuen Air Base (Cebu); Naval Base Camilo Osias (Sta. Ana, Cagayan) Lal-lo Airport (Cagayan) Camp Melchor dela Cruz / Aquino (Gamu, Isabela); and Balabac Island (Palawan).
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