By el Amigo
MANILA — Philippine naval and coast guard vessels monitored a Chinese aircraft carrier group as it traveled through the waters of Western Mindanao on Oct. 22, with the formation passing within 15 nautical miles of Zamboanga del Norte before proceeding toward the Celebes Sea.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed the movement Monday, citing monitoring operations conducted by the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).
According to Westmincom, the Chinese formation was first detected northwest of Talulu Point in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte. It was subsequently tracked southwest of Maitum, Sarangani, while moving southeastward.
The group consisted of the People’s Liberation Army Navy aircraft carrier Liaoning and three destroyers identified as Huainan, Wuxi and Anshan. The closest recorded position was 15 nautical miles from Talulu Point, less than 30 kilometers from the shoreline.
The Philippine Navy began tracking the vessels after they were spotted at around 7 a.m. The guided-missile frigate BRP Diego Silang was dispatched to monitor their movements, with BRP Emilio Jacinto joining as the Chinese ships transited the Basilan Strait at approximately 10 a.m.
Westmincom said attempts to contact the formation by radio went unanswered.
Monitoring continued throughout the day as the Chinese warships moved farther southeast. By around 6 p.m., the group was near the coast of Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, where Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Sarangani joined BRP Diego Silang in the operation.
The Philippine vessels maintained surveillance as the formation headed for the Celebes Sea. Westmincom estimated that the group had exited its operational area at about 11 p.m., based on its reported speed and direction.
The Philippine Air Force supported the monitoring effort with aerial reconnaissance and surveillance flights involving a Black Hawk helicopter and an NC-212i aircraft.
Footage of the Chinese carrier group was also shared on social media by a netizen who spotted the vessels during their transit.
The latest movement marked at least the second reported passage of the Liaoning formation through the Basilan Strait. The group had also been observed using the passage in December 2025 while on its way back to China.
Commenting on the transit, Philippine Coast Guard West Philippine Sea spokesperson Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela said Beijing would likely invoke the right of innocent passage to justify the movement.
“Most likely the Chinese government would just argue that this is just right of innocent passage,” Tarriela said.
Tarriela also pointed to the carrier’s navigation route, saying there was no apparent reason for it to zigzag. He acknowledged, however, that China would likely maintain that the movement was an exercise of its navigation rights.
