Philippine Navy Ship Avoids Collision During Chinese Frigate Harassment in South China Sea

Philippine and Chinese warships almost collided this week near the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea in what Manila claims was a “hazardous” incident involving Beijing’s forces. The Philippine Navy’s BRP Benguet (LS507) – a World War II-era landing ship tank – was harassed Wednesday by People’s Liberation Army Navy Type 054A-class guided-missile frigate Binzhou (532) near Thitu Island, the largest Philippine possession in the disputed archipelago of islands claimed by half a dozen states. Binzhou employed an “unsafe and unprofessional maneuver” that required Philippine sailors to adjust their course to avoid a collision, according to the Western Command