Chinese Territorial Waters – to the embarrassment of the Chinese State one of their Jianghu Class guided-missile Frigates has gone aground in Philippine Territorial waters, or rather on a disputed shoal (Half Moon Shoal), about 70 miles off the Rizal a town in Palawan province, north western Philippines.      Chinese navy ships promptly removed the ship which will sail back to port (a Chinese one ?) with minor damage.    At least six (6) Chinese Navy ships, along with smaller utility boats, helped refloat the grounded frigate.      Filipino Coast Guard vessels had been deployed near the area to help if needed.

The Philippines is currently offering another area, near the South China Sea to foreign investors for oil and gas explorations despite protests from China.     China claims ownership of those waters, which Filipino officials say include an area just 34 miles off the Philippine province of Palawan.   Watch this space!!