AFP Condemns 'Provocative' Radar Lock-On Incident

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has strongly condemned what it called an "alarming" and "escalatory" act after a Chinese navy corvette directed its fire control radar at a Philippine frigate conducting maritime patrol operations in the West Philippine Sea on March 7, 2026. The incident, which the AFP revealed on March 20, involved the guided missile frigate BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-6) and a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Type-056 Jiangdao-class corvette identified as CS Guang'an (622) near Sabina Shoal (also known as Escoda Shoal) within the Philippines' 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone.

Second Such Incident in Six Years

This marks the second time a Chinese warship has directed its fire control radar at a Philippine naval vessel. In April 2020, another Type-056 Jiangdao-class corvette, the CS Liupanshui (514), performed a similar action against the Philippine Navy corvette BRP Conrado Yap (PS-30). Fire control radar lock-on is considered a serious provocative action as it typically precedes missile launch preparations, making it a significant escalation in maritime confrontations.

Manila Demands End to Dangerous Actions in PH Waters

The Philippine Navy's Naval Defense Command confirmed the incident and described it as part of a pattern of "dangerous maneuvers" by Chinese vessels inside Manila's exclusive economic zone. In recent years, the Philippines has repeatedly accused Beijing of using water cannons to interfere with resupply missions to Philippine-held features in the contested waters. The West Philippine Sea, which Manila calls its EEZ under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), remains one of the world's most contested maritime regions, with overlapping territorial claims from China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
  • Incident date: March 7, 2026
  • Location: Sabina/Escoda Shoal, West Philippine Sea
  • Philippine vessel: BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-6), a Miguel Malvar-class guided missile frigate
  • Chinese vessel: CS Guang'an (622), a Type-056 Jiangdao-class corvette

Growing Tensions in South China Sea

The radar lock-on incident underscores the escalating tensions in the South China Sea, where the Philippines has been strengthening its maritime capabilities and asserting its rights under international law. The BRP Miguel Malvar, which carries Selex ES NA-25X fire control radar systems, was conducting routine patrol operations when the Chinese corvette approached and directed its radar toward the Philippine frigate. The AFP statement emphasized that such actions undermine peace and stability in the region and called for respect for international maritime laws. The incident comes at a time when the Philippines has been actively engaging with allied nations, including the United States, to enhance its maritime security posture in the contested waters.