Manila, March 27 -- The Philippine Navy ship BRP Benguet (LS-507) avoided a potential collision after a dangerous maneuver by a Chinese missile frigate while it was conducting a routine operation near Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on March 25.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines' Western Command (Wescom), in a statement Thursday night, said the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) missile frigate has the bow/pennant number 532.

"While conducting lawful operations, BRP Benguet encountered the PLAN vessel, which executed an unsafe and unprofessional maneuver by closing in and passing at a dangerously close distance," it said.

Wescom said such dangerous maneuvers are provocative and constitute a clear violation of the Co...