PH Navy ‘invites’ Chinese warship to join ADMM-Plus in WPS sail

MANILA — The Philippine Navy invited a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) warship to join the formations during the Sea Phase of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) maritime security activity after the Chinese vessel was monitored near participating ships in the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday. 

The Sea Phase involved 11 naval vessels from eight countries, including the Philippines, the United States, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, India, Singapore, and Brunei.

The PLA-N warship was spotted about 10 nautical miles from the participating vessels as the ships approached the designated exercise box, around 45 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.

The BRP Jose Rizal issued a radio challenge to the Chinese warship.

Unlike the usual radio challenges issued to foreign vessels, however, the Philippine Navy this time invited the Chinese warship to participate in the joint sail, given China’s membership in the ADMM-Plus.

Combined Task Force Commander Captain Miljun Peñaflorida said the Philippine side was ready to accommodate the Chinese warship in the formations.

“We have a warship that is a country part of our ASEAN and Plus countries. We are always ready to accommodate them during the exercise,” Peñaflorida told reporters aboard the BRP Jose Rizal.

He said the radio communication was not simply intended as a challenge, but also as an invitation for the Chinese vessel to participate.

“I think this is not more of a challenge but rather asking them to continue participating in our exercise because we know from the start that they are part of the ASEAN and Plus countries for this particular ADMM,” he noted.

The PLA-N warship did not respond to the radio challenge.

Peñaflorida said it is standard operating procedure for the Philippine Navy to challenge vessels, whether civilian or military, operating within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In this case, however, he said the objective was to keep the Chinese warship outside the designated exercise box.

Peñaflorida said the presence of the Chinese warship did not disrupt the exercise.

“Wala namang naging problema,” he said.

China did not participate in the Sea Phase exercise, although Chinese representatives attended its opening in Subic, Zambales on September 21.

The participating vessels included the Philippine Navy’s frigate BRP Jose Rizal and landing dock BRP Tarlac; a US littoral combat ship; an Australian frigate; a Japanese helicopter destroyer; a New Zealand frigate and sustainment ship; an Indian frigate and corvette; a Singaporean littoral ship; and a Brunei patrol ship.

The BRP Jose Rizal served as the lead ship during division tactics, which involved different ship formations, including the column and ADMM-Plus or Alpha formations.

The Philippine Navy’s AW-159 helicopter also participated in a photo exercise and a medical evacuation drill, transporting a simulated casualty from Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel JS Ise to the BRP Jose Rizal for medical treatment.

Japanese forces led search and rescue exercises, while the BRP Tarlac conducted drills simulating assistance to a grounded oil tanker and cross-deck landing operations.

Eleven naval vessels from the Philippines, the United States, Australia, Japan, India, New Zealand, Singapore, and Brunei sailed together in the West Philippine Sea as part of the Sea Phase of the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Maritime Security Joint Cooperative Activity on… pic.twitter.com/KrBzgvJRQ2

— Bianca Dava-Lee 🐱 (@biancadava) September 23, 2026

On Thursday, the BRP Jose Rizal and an Australian naval vessel also conducted a replenishment-at-sea drill, practicing the transfer of supplies between ships while underway.

The ADMM-Plus serves as a regional platform for defense ministers to discuss security concerns.

This year’s maritime security activity focuses on strengthening maritime security and environmental resilience amid climate change.

For Peñaflorida, the Sea Phase exercise also forms part of the Philippine Navy’s continuing training and preparation.

“In the Armed Forces—the Navy, in particular—it is the training that prepares our equipment and personnel, and the exercise is part of the training. The more we exercise, the more are ready for any eventuality,” he stressed.

The participating forces successfully completed the planned exercise serials for the Sea Phase, according to Peñaflorida.

“In totality, the mission given to us is a success,” he said.