Manila – The Philippine Navy has confirmed the presence of a large chinese patrol vessel within the Philippine EEZ.
"A vessel believed to be Yezheng 310 is at Scarborough Shoals 121 miles off the province of Zamables and almost a direct line from the former US Naval base now the freeport of Subic Bay." noted a sms message this evening from a Philippine Naval officer aboard a unnamed philippine vessel tracking the ship. "This has been visually confirmed."
The government run Peoples Daily online described the vessel as "China’s most advanced fishery patrol ship.," It is armed with Close in Weapons systesm and light anti-ship missles per reports describing the vessel as a light firgate type of patrol ship. China’s news agenceis also confirmed the information of the Philippine Navy saying that the Patrol Ship, "has arrived off the coast of Huangyan Island (Panatag Shoal) in the South China Sea. It has now begun its mission to protect the country’s territorial waters."
Ironically the report also mentions the reef is just off of the Philippine island of Luzon. And calls the uninhabited reef an Island.