THREE Chinese vessels sailed near ships participating in the Balikatan exercise off San Felipe, Zambales, last Saturday.

A Jiangkai II-class frigate with bow number 579, another vessel with bow number 500, and a Dongdiao II-class auxiliary surveillance ship with bow number 797 were seen cruising in the area where Philippine and US forces were conducting a Division Tactics (Divtacs) drill, Philippine Navy spokesman Capt. John Percie Acts said on Sunday.

Acts said the Navy patrol ship BPS Ramon Alcaraz tracked the Chinese ships, which kept at a distance.

On the sixth day of the joint exercise, the US Marine Corps deployed the US-made anti-ship missile system Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) and other missile weaponry.

The NMESIS, a land-based missile system designed to target hostile ships.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had earlier said acquisition of the NMESIS by the Philippines boosts the country's deterrence.

Lt. Col. John Paul Salgado, chief of the Balikatan Exercise Combined Joint Information Bureau, said the Divtacs is designed to enhance interoperability and coordination among participating navy vessels.

The Alcaraz and another Navy ship, the Apolinario Mabini, were joined in the drill by the Philippine Coast Guard's BRP Gabriela Silang and US Navy warships Savannah and Comstock.