Chinese warships to dock in Manila for 4-day goodwill visit

A Chinese replenishment ship docks at Sasa Wharf in Davao City in April 2017. PHILIPPINE NAVY

MANILA, Philippines — Chinese warships of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy will be in Manila for a four-day goodwill visit.

Chinese guided-missile frigate Wu Hu, frigate Han Dan, and replenishment ship Dong Ping Hu will dock at Pier 15 in South Harbor on Thursday, the Philippine Navy said in an advisory.

A port briefing will be conducted after a welcome ceremony for the vessels. Other exchanges were not detailed.

The last time the Chinese navy paid a visit to the Philippines was in April 2017 in Davao City, the hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte.

When he won as President in 2016, Duterte reached out to China for improved relations and played down the territorial dispute in favor of economic aid and investments.

The visit of the Chinese vessels comes after Russian vessels docked in Manila for a five-day port call early January. /je