Chinese ship targets BRP Miguel Malvar with fire-control radar — PH Navy
A Chinese warship aimed its fire-control radar at the Philippine Navy’s BRP Miguel Malvar near Escoda (Sabina) Shoal earlier this month, an action Manila called “alarming and provocative.”
On March 7, 2026, the Philippine Navy's guided missile frigate BRP Miguel Malvar was conducting a maritime patrol near Sabina Shoal (also known as Escoda Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea when a Chinese navy vessel directed its fire-control radar at the Philippine ship. The incident occurred approximately 150 kilometers west of Palawan, within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. The Chinese vessel was identified as a PLA Navy ship with bow number 622 that approached the BRP Miguel Malvar during its patrol near the fish-rich area.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) characterized the Chinese action as "alarming and provocative," stating that it "created unnecessary risk and could have led to misinterpretation and misunderstanding at sea." Fire-control radar is a specialized system that provides precise targeting coordinates to weapons systems for missiles or shells, making this action particularly concerning in maritime confrontations. The AFP emphasized that "all states" need to "act with restraint and professionalism at sea."
This incident represents the latest in a series of escalating maritime tensions between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea. The BRP Miguel Malvar, commissioned in April 2025, is the Philippine Navy's first modern guided-missile frigate equipped with advanced defense systems including C-STAR anti-ship missiles, VL MICA air-defense systems, and integrated 3D AESA radar. The ship was built by South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.
Sabina Shoal, known as Xianbin Reef by China, lies within Philippine territorial claims though China disputes this. The area has been a focal point of tensions, with previous incidents including Chinese use of water cannons and lasers against Philippine vessels. The 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling invalidated China's expansive claims in the South China Sea, but Beijing has rejected this decision. No immediate response was available from the Chinese Embassy in Manila regarding this specific incident.
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