Philippine media is now abuzz with the news that a PLAN guided-missile frigate has accidentally grounded itself into Hasa-Hasa Shoal about 2 days ago... while conducting patrols in Philippine waters...
the ship in question is probably the Dongguan (Hull No. 560)... a Jianghu V-class frigate... which normally carries eight (8) NORINCO YJ-83 SSMs in two (2) four-box launchers...
since this is a fairly inexpensive export-class ship (Egypt, Thailand, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar also operate them)... which only costs about USD100M new... we should not discount the possibility that this was a deliberate act... that would provide the pretext for Beijing to occupy Hasa-Hasa Shoal...
the Philippine Military should investigate this matter immediately... and, if possible, subject the warship to the applicable international salvaging laws...
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