Two Chinese ships have been conducting surveillance operations on Recto (Reed) Bank in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) for at least a week now without prior coordination from the government, the Philippine Navy (PN) confirmed. Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, PN Flag Officer in Command, said he would submit an official report to the Department of National Defense (DND) for the filing of a diplomatic protest against the Chinese government through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). “It has come to my attention the presence of two Chinese surveillance vessels on Recto Bank,” he said in an online forum Monday.

Sadongdong, M. A. (2020, August 12). 2 Chinese ships spotted doing 'surveillance' on Recto Bank - PH Navy. Manila Bulletin, p. 2.