The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday confirmed an encounter in February between a Chinese warship and a Philippine Navy corvette on the waters of Kalayaan Islands—with the Chinese ship showing “hostile intent” by directing its guns at the Philippine vessel. In a statement on Thursday, the AFP’s Western Command confirmed the Feb. 17 incident between the Navy’s BRP Conrado Yap (PS39) and a Chinese corvette with bow number 514. The BRP Conrado Yap was conducting its patrol in the area of the Malampaya Natural Gas to Power Project at the Kalayaan Island Group when it spotted the gray Chinese vessel underway at the Rizal Reef Detachment.

Miranda, R., Pazzibugan, D. Z., Aurelio, J. M., & Salaverria, L. B. (2020, April 24). AFP confirms Chinese ship’s ‘hostile intent’. Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. A1, A4.