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PCG issues radio challenge vs. Chinese vessels in Batanes waters

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has issued a radio challenge to the three Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels that it has been monitoring in the waters off Batanes since Thursday after they were detected by Canada's Dark Vessel Detection system. The PCG said its Islander aircraft departed from Manila at 6 a.m. on Friday en route to Batanes. 'Upon locating the CCG-4304, the crew issued radio challenges, emphasizing that the vessel lacks legal authority to operate within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), approximately 75 nautical miles west off the coast of Sabtang, Batanes,' the PCG said in a statement. 'Unfortunately, the CCG vessel did not respond. Consequently, adverse weather conditions and the distance to the other two CCG vessels (3304 and 3301) prevented the aircraft from reaching their locations,' it added. Further, the PCG said that it will deploy additional resources 'should the CCG vessels continue their presence or approach closer to the Batanes coastline.' The Philippines refers to parts of the waters within its exclusive economic zone as the West Philippine Sea - or maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc. The 2016 arbitration ruling upheld the Philippines' exclusive economic zone over China's historical claims in the disputed South China Sea under UNCLOS. But China has never recognized the decision. —LDF, GMA Integrated News