The Western Command, the AFP’s unified command in the Province of Palawan, has released its statement narrating how the PLAN Vessel Gun Control Director (GCD) of the Chinese Government was directed towards Philippine Navy’s ship BRP Conrado Yap.
“The Western Command confirms that the incident happened on Feb. 17, 2020 through the report received from the Joint Task Force West (JTFW) and as revealed by the Commanding Officer of BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39),” according to a press release of the Western Command this afternoon, April 23.
Wescom said that based on the report from JTFW, last Feb. 15, 2020, the Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Condrado Yap, the most powerful ship of the Philippine Navy, departed Puerto Princesa City port in order to conduct Territorial Defense Operations (TDO) and sovereignty patrol at Malampaya Natural Gas-to-Power Project (MNGPP) and at the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), in the West Philippines Sea (WPS). Two days later, they said that while the PS-39 was underway to Rizal Reef Detachment, they detected a Radar contact of gray colored vessel.
“[The] PS-39 was first to issue radio challenge on which the vessel responded ‘The Chinese Government has imputable sovereignty over the South China Sea, its islands and its adjacent waters.’ The PS-39 again challenged the vessel and then instructed to proceed directly to its destination. That vessel repeated its response and maintained her course and speed,” the statement reads.
The BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39), according to Western Command was able to identify the said vessel as PLAN Vessel, with a bow number 514, also a Corvette ship of China.
“There, PS-39 was able to visually observe that the Gun Control Director, an equipment that gives information in obtaining a fire control solution of said PLAN Vessel was directed towards PS39. This Gun Control Director can be used to designate and track targets and makes all main guns ready to fire in under a second.”
According to Wescom’s Joint Task Force West, eventhough the said Philippine Navy ship does not have the Electronic Support Measure (ESM) to confirm that the PLAN GCD was directed towards it, the visual identification confirmed the “hostile intent” of China’s ship.
“This hostile intent act on the part of Chinese Government and encroachment within the Philippines’ EEZ is perceived as clear violations of international law and Philippine Sovereignty,” the statement further explained.
After the scenario, both vessels were reportedly continued their respective voyages and consequently, the Western Command reported the said incident to their higher headquarters.
This issue surfaced after Foreign Affairs Sec. Teodoro Locsin Jr. communicated through his tweeter account yesterday, April 22, saying that the Philippine Government has filed diplomatic protests against China over the said incident and against the recent creation of two districts in the disputed waters in WPS.
In the recent exclusive interview of Palawan Daily News with Kalayaan LGU, they categorically condemned China for creating two districts in the West Philippine Sea and made them part of Hainan Province amidst the crisis brought about by COVID-19.
Read the full statement of Western Command: https://bit.ly/3cFJ5wn
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