Latest news with #XiangYangHong05
GMA Network
4 days ago
- General
- GMA Network
3 China Coast Guard ships sail near Batanes with 'very unusual' track
A vessel of the China Coast Guard (3304) is seen in the waters off the coastline of Zambales on Friday, January 24, 2025, according to the Philippine Coast Guard. The BRP Cabra of the PCG issued radio challenges to notify the CCG that it was within the country's Exclusive Economic Zone. PCG Three China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels on Thursday morning were seen passing near Batanes with a "very unusual track," according to a maritime security expert. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), former US Air Force official and ex-defense attaché Ray Powell initially reported that CCG 3301, 3304, and 4304 were seen moving northwest near Batanes on Wednesday. "Very unusual track for CCG--not clear where they're headed," he said. Powell then said in an update that CCG 3301 and 3304 on Thursday morning were moving northwest through the Bashi Channel between Batanes and Taiwan, while CCG 4304 was patrolling 70 nautical miles (nm) west of Batanes. "More strange Chinese vessel activity near the Philippines' northern Batanes province today," Powell said. "Even as two CCG ships were moving through the Bashi Channel (see above post), two large 'fishing' ships also passed through. One of them—the Min Fu Ding Yu 09708—broke off and veered south between 6:30-8:30am to come just outside the Philippines' 12-nm territorial sea," he added. GMA News Online sought comment from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on the matter, but it has yet to provide a statement as of posting time. The development comes days after the PCG expressed alarm over the "significant increase" of Chinese research vessels within the Philippine exclusive economic zone this year. The PCG cited the presence of the Xiang Yang Hong 05, seen approximately 37 nautical miles off the coast of Sta. Ana, Cagayan also in northern Luzon. The ship was one of at least four Chinese research vessels spotted in July, according to the PCG. Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim. The West Philippine Sea refers to the 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. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has refused to recognize the decision. ????More strange ????????#PRC vessel activity near the ????????#Philippines' northern Batanes province today. Even as two #China Coast Guard ships were moving through the Bashi Channel (see above post), two large "fishing" ships also passed through. One of them--the Min Fu Ding Yu 09708--broke… — Ray Powell (@GordianKnotRay) August 7, 2025 — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Ally Intercepts Chinese Ship Mapping Waters Off Guam
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Philippines dispatched a coast guard plane over the weekend to intercept a Chinese research vessel as it reentered the country's maritime zone following an extended mission east of Guam. Ship tracking data released by the Philippine coast guard and confirmed by Newsweek showed the vessel, Xiang Yang Hong 05, spent more than five weeks operating near the U.S. territory before heading back toward the Philippines. Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the U.S. Seventh Fleet via email for comment outside of office hours. Why It Matters China claims nearly all of the South China Sea as its territory, a conduit for an estimated one-third of global maritime shipping. This puts the country at odds with several neighbors, including the Philippines, which since 2023 has stepped up its challenge to China's expanding presence within the U.S. treaty ally's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). An EEZ is an area extending 200 nautical miles (230 miles) from a claimant state's coast, where foreign fishing and research activities are prohibited without permission under international maritime law. What To Know Philippine Coast Guard chief Ronnie Gil Gavan ordered a Philippine aircraft to conduct a maritime domain awareness patrol Saturday in response to the presence of the Xiang Yang Hong 05 off the northeastern tip of Cagayan province, agency spokesperson Jay Tarriela wrote on X. "The vessel was challenged by the PCG [Philippine Coast Guard] aircraft but did not respond," Tarriela said. This Philippine coast guard photo shows Chinese research ship the Xiang Yang Hong 05 operating within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone on August 4, 2025. This Philippine coast guard photo shows Chinese research ship the Xiang Yang Hong 05 operating within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone on August 4, 2025. Philippine Coast Guard According to historical ship tracking data, based on satellite technology, the Xiang Yang Hong 05 departed from the southwestern Chinese city of Guangzhou on June 5. From June 14 to July 24, the vessel sailed back and forth just east of the U.S. EEZ around Guam in a "lawnmower pattern" commonly associated with seafloor mapping. Guam, home to several major U.S. military bases, sits within the so-called second island chain—a strategic arc stretching from Japan's Ogasawara Islands to Palau and parts of Micronesia. Washington considers this region a critical second line of defense in the event of conflict with China. The Xiang Yang Hong 05, which Tarriela described as a former cargo ship, is part of the Xiang Yang Hong family of research vessels whose presence has added to tensions in the maritime zones of China's neighbors. It is among three other Chinese ships, including the Xiang Yang Hong 10, the twin-hulled Bei Diao 996 and the Zhuhai Yun, an oceanographic research vessel that doubles as an autonomous drone mothership, that the Philippines tracked in its EEZ last week. What People Are Saying Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela told local media: "Now in 2025, what is alarming for us—and where we've seen a significant increase—is the higher number of Chinese research vessels entering our EEZ [exclusive economic zone]." "Xiang Yang Hong 05 is just one of the four that we monitored. So imagine if every month we have three or four, it is still alarming." A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the Philippines, in an August 1 statement: "Ultimately, the reason some Philippine officials repeatedly make statements that distort and attack China's position is, more likely, an attempt to escalate tensions between the two countries and mislead the international community." What Happens Next Chinese maritime activities, including surveys and coast guard patrols in disputed areas, are likely to remain a point of friction in the South China Sea. The Philippines is expected to continue challenging these vessels, which analysts have said are meant to normalize Beijing's sweeping claims.
Filipino Times
04-08-2025
- Science
- Filipino Times
PCG deploys aircraft to monitor Chinese research vessel near Cagayan
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday said it deployed an aircraft to monitor and challenge a Chinese research vessel spotted near Sta. Ana, Cagayan. PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan ordered the Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) patrol on Saturday after the Xiang Yang Hong 05 was tracked roughly 37 nautical miles off the coast. According to the Coast Guard, the aircraft visually confirmed the vessel's presence at a distance of 14.92 nautical miles from Babuyan Island. A radio challenge was issued to the ship, but it did not respond. The PCG said the Xiang Yang Hong 05 left Guangdong, China, on June 5, 2025, and entered the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on June 7, about 130 nautical miles off Burgos, Ilocos Norte. It exited the EEZ on June 9 but re-entered on July 31. The vessel reportedly conducted extensive marine scientific research for 22 days in the Pacific Ocean, near Guam and 42 nautical miles off its coast, before re-entering Philippine waters. As of Sunday morning, it was last monitored via the Automatic Identification System (AIS) around 86 nautical miles from Calayan Island, Cagayan. The Xiang Yang Hong 05 is a converted cargo ship repurposed for research and deployed in sensitive maritime areas to support the operations of China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), the PCG said.
GMA Network
04-08-2025
- Science
- GMA Network
PCG alarmed over increase of Chinese research ships in PH EEZ
The Xiang Yang Hong 05 research vessel was monitored and challenged by a Philippine Coast Guard aircraft off Cagayan on Saturday, August 2, 2025. PHOTO: PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD The Philippine Coast Guard on Monday expressed alarm over the 'significant increase' of Chinese research ships spotted within the Philippine exclusive economic zone this year. 'Ngayong 2025, ang alarming na para sa amin, may significant increase, is the higher number of Chinese research vessels na pumapasok sa EEZ natin,' PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela told Dobol B TV in an interview. (Now in 2025, what is alarming for us is the significant increase or higher number of Chinese research vessels entering our EEZ.) 'I still don't have the exact data. But for example, itong nakaraang buwan ng July, we actually monitored four Chinese research vessels. Isa lang 'yung Xiang Yang Hong 05 doon sa apat na mino-monitor natin. So imagine kung every month meron tayong three or four, it is still alarming. That means meron tayong incursion of Chinese research vessels of almost 20 to 22,' he added. (I still don't have the exact data. But for example, this last July, we actually monitored four Chinese research vessels. Xiang Yang Hong 05 is just one of the four that we monitored. So imagine if every month we have three or four, it is still alarming. That means we have an incursion of Chinese research vessels of almost 20 to 22,' he added. Xiang Yang Hong 05 was tracked approximately 37 nautical miles off the coast of Sta. Ana, Cagayan on Sunday. According to the PCG, the Chinese ship conducted substantial marine scientific research for almost 22 days after departing the Philippine EEZ and before re-entering. This research occurred along a parallel track in the Pacific Ocean, close to Guam at a distance of 42 nautical miles. The PCG said Xiang Yang Hong 05 is a research vessel that was converted from a cargo ship and deployed to sensitive maritime zones to support People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) operations. Xiang Yang Hong 05 exited the Philippine EEZ on Sunday evening, according to Tarriela. Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim. The West Philippine Sea refers to the 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. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has refused to recognize the decision.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
03-08-2025
- General
- GMA Network
PCG aircraft monitors Chinese research ship off Cagayan
The Xiang Yang Hong 05 research vessel was monitored and challenged by a Philippine Coast Guard aircraft off Cagayan on Saturday, August 2, 2025. PHOTO: PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Sunday it sent an aircraft to monitor and challenge a Chinese research vessel that was spotted near Cagayan. In a statement, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, PCG Commandant ordered the deployment of a PCG aircraft to conduct a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) patrol on Saturdayin response to the presence of the Xiang Yang Hong 05, which was tracked approximately 37 nautical miles off the coast of Sta. Ana, Cagayan. 'The PCG aircraft successfully conducted its MDA flight yesterday afternoon and physically sighted the Xiang Yang Hong 05 at a distance of 14.92 nautical miles from Babuyan Island,' the Coast Guard said. The PCG aircraft issued a challenge to the Chinese ship which did not respond. 'The Xiang Yang Hong 05 left Guangdong, China, on June 5, 2025, en route to the West Philippine Sea. It entered the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone on June 7, approximately 130 nautical miles from Burgos, Ilocos Norte, and subsequently left on June 9, only to re-enter the EEZ last July 31,' the Coast Guard said. According to the PCG, the Chinese ship 'conducted substantial marine scientific research for almost 22 days after departing the Philippine EEZ and before re-entering. This research occurred along a parallel track in the Pacific Ocean, close to Guam at a distance of 42 nautical miles. As of this morning, the vessel was monitored via Automatic Identification System (AIS) approximately 86 nautical miles from Calayan Island, Cagayan.' The PCG said the Xiang Yang Hong 05 is a research vessel that was converted from a cargo ship and deployed to sensitive maritime zones to support People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) operations. The Coast Guard said it 'remains committed to monitoring and protecting the nation's maritime jurisdiction, ensuring the safety and security of its waters against foreign vessels engaged in unauthorized and illegal maritime activities.' — RF, GMA Integrated News
