PH Navy refutes reports on presence of Chinese warships in CamSur

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy has refuted reports circulating online concerning Chinese vessels allegedly sailing in the vicinity of Jose Panganiban in Camarines Sur.

The information claimed that about five Chinese vessels were spotted in the area on Monday, but the Navy said these were foreign vessels part of an exercise hosted by the French Navy.

“These are not Chinese warships; these are foreign vessels composed of the French Navy, US Navy, and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force that are conducting a naval exercise hosted by the French Navy in the Philippine Sea dubbed as ‘Exercise Pacific Steller 2025’ which started last February 8, 2025,” it said in a statement on Monday night.

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“This exercise is a multi-large-deck event designed to advance coordination and cooperation among French, Japanese, and US maritime forces,” the Navy added.

Based on the Navy’s explanation, its French counterpart posed as “enemy vessels,” as part of the exercise.

Citing the US Pacific Fleet, the Philippine Navy said that the exercise aims to “promote a free, open and stable Indo-Pacific space for the benefit of French populations, interests, and those of their regional partners, within the framework of international law.”