Philippine naval and coast guard vessels monitored a Chinese aircraft carrier group as it transited the Basilan Strait off Mindanao on October 22, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed on Monday, according to USNI News and Philippine reports of the AFP's Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) statement.
Source: USNI News, Oct 26
Westmincom said the formation — the People's Liberation Army Navy carrier Liaoning (16) with guided-missile destroyers Anshan (101), Wuxi (104) and Huainan (123) — was first detected northwest of Talulu Point in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, and passed within 15 nautical miles of the coast before being tracked southwest of Maitum, Sarangani, heading southeast toward the Celebes Sea. Attempts to contact the formation by radio went unanswered, Westmincom said, and the group was estimated to have exited its operational area at about 11 p.m.
Source: AFP Westmincom via Screencap PH, Oct 26
First publicised tasking for BRP Sarangani
The Philippine Navy frigate BRP Diego Silang (FFG-7) and patrol vessel BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35) shadowed the group, and the Coast Guard vessel BRP Sarangani (6177) joined the monitoring near Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, USNI News reported. The Philippine Air Force supported the operation with a Black Hawk helicopter and an NC-212i aircraft, Westmincom said, adding that the transit was "observed to be continuous and expeditious."
Source: USNI News, Oct 26
The escort was the first publicised tasking for Sarangani, the former Taiwan Coast Guard vessel Kinmen, which was transferred through the We Protect our Seas Foundation last month and commissioned on October 2, USNI News reported. Manila took possession on the condition the vessel would not be used near or against Taiwan, and the Coast Guard said it would be stationed in Mindanao.
Source: USNI News, Oct 26
A two-week voyage around the First Island Chain
The Liaoning group began training activities in the Western Pacific earlier this month and, since October 14, has sailed around Japan's Ryukyu Islands, into the Philippine Sea, through the Luzon Strait and into the South China Sea — three First Island Chain transits in two weeks, USNI News reported. China's defence ministry said last week the carrier group was conducting maritime exercises under a training plan to improve its realistic training level, according to the Westmincom statement reported in Philippine media.