TheMKsports People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command on Monday organized naval and air forces to conduct far seas drills passing through the Basilan Strait. The relevant operations strictly followed safe, standardized, and professional practices, fully complying with international law and norms, Tian Junli, spokesperson of the PLA Southern Theater Command said in a statement on Monday.

Tian's remarks came after the Philippines' Western Mindanao Command claimed it is tracking the movement of three PLA Navy vessels monitored to have entered the "Philippine waters" on Sunday, according to a report by Philippine news media outlet Inquirer.net on Monday.

According to a Philippine officer cited by Inquirer.net, the three PLA vessels included a Type 055 large destroyer, a Type 054A frigate and a Type 903 replenishment ship.

Tian said the Philippine side has made baseless accusations and hyped the normal transit of the Chinese naval vessels, which severely undermines the legitimate navigation rights of China and other nations.

Global Times