Manila: The Philippines said Thursday that two Chinese warships, led by the Shandong aircraft carrier, sailed Tuesday near its northern maritime borders.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Shandong was deployed to the disputed South China Sea for a second time in April.

The Philippine Navy, through its intelligence surveillance reconnaissance capabilities, monitored two PLA Navy ships off the northern coasts on April 22, 2025. Navy spokesman Capt. John Percie Alcos shared these details with reporters when asked about the US Naval Institute (USNI) report, as reported by the Inquirer.

The Philippines is currently undertaking military drills with the United States. Named the 'Super Bowl' of exercises in the region, the three-week 'Balikatan,' or "shoulder to shoulder" drills, are being attended by more than 16,000 troops from both sides. Balikatan 25 is taking place from April 21 to May 9 in the Luzon Strait, between the Philippines' Luzon island and Taiwan.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang urged the US to abandon its "persecutory delusion" about the Chinese military after US officials commented on China's military, according to state-run Xinhua News. Zhang stated that some people in the US have a biased view of the Chinese military, which he believes obstructs exchanges between the two countries' militaries.