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"The Philippine Navy marked its 128th anniversary on Tuesday with a commissioning ceremony for its newest offshore patrol vessel, the BRP Rajah Lakandula, amid escalating territorial friction in the South China Sea. “For over a century, the Philippine Navy has stood watch over our waters, defending our sovereignty and protecting our people. It continues to do so amidst evolving security challenges that require even greater vigilance,” President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr said during his address at the Philippine Navy headquarters in Manila. The defence upgrade arrives as the Philippines sees frequent at-sea standoffs with China, intensifying international concern over freedom of navigation and regional stability. Manila has repeatedly condemned Beijing's escalating grey-zone tactics and assertive maritime manoeuvres within the Philippine exclusive economic zone, prompting a strategic shift toward a more self-reliant defence posture. "Global instability, shifting alliances, and emerging threats demand that we maintain a resilient maritime defence posture. In this environment, a credible Philippine Navy is indispensable to regional peace. Thus, I have directed the Philippine Navy to further strengthen its capabilities," Marcos added. The newly commissioned offshore patrol vessel, built by South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, is engineered to enhance long-range patrols and territorial defence. Equipped with advanced combat management systems, stealth technology, and significant firepower, the warship is slated for immediate deployment to the West Philippine Sea to bolster naval visibility and counter 'foreign incursions'. Beijing has consistently maintained that Scarborough Shoal and its adjacent waters are China's territory, thereby rendering any domestic operations or scientific research there entirely legitimate. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has urged the Philippines to immediately halt what it labels as maritime infringements, provocations, and inflammatory publicity that serve to destabilise regional peace. The Rajah Lakandula is the second of six planned offshore patrol vessels to enter active service in Manila’s push to secure its waters. The ceremony took place as naval forces simultaneously deployed to address the aftermath of an earthquake that hit Mindanao on Monday."
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