31-07-2025
PCG: 3 Chinese coast guard vessels at Bajo de Masinloc, 3 research ships in PH EEZ
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said three China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels were seen at the Bajo de Masinloc while three Chinese research ships were inside the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Thursday morning.
In a virtual interview, PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said the CCG vessels at Bajo de Masinloc were identified as the CCG 4203, CCG 5303 and CCG 3502.
'The PCG is monitoring the presence of the three CCG vessels na bumalik na sa vicinity ng Bajo De Masinloc. As a matter of fact, the Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan has deployed our Coast Guard vessel to once again carry out our maritime law enforcement patrol dito,' he said.
Beijing recently claimed the Philippines is the source of trouble and danger in the South China Sea.
'That is the objective of the People's Republic of China, to justify their illegal presence within our own exclusive economic zone and to highlight na tayo daw mismo ang pumapasok sa kanilang illegal nine-, now 10-, dash line,' Tarriela said.
(They highlight that we are the ones who are entering their illegal nine-, now 10-, dash line.)
China said it carried out a law enforcement patrol around Bajo de Masinloc to protect its 'sovereignty, maritime rights, and interests.'
'I don't know how recent yung sinasabi niya (their claims are),' Tarriela said.
'Alam naman natin sa pangit ng panahon nitong nakaraang dalawang linggo and based on our monitoring, wala tayong nakita mga ganitong presensya ng CCG because of the typhoons na dumaan. But right now as we speak, the Philippine Coast Guard is once again carrying out maritime law enforcement patrol dito sa vicinity ng Zambales,' he added.
(We all know we had bad weather the past two weeks… we did not see any CCG presence because of the typhoons that entered.)
Aside from this development, Tarriela said three Chinese research vessels Bei Diao 996, Zhu Hai Yun, and Xiang Yang Hong 10 were also spotted within the Philippine EEZ.
'These vessels are suspected of engaging in illegal marine scientific research (MSR), prompting the PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, to issue immediate orders to intercept and challenge them,' Tarriela said.
The Chinese research ship departed Guangdong Province in June.
Bei Diao 996, which Tarriela said as involved in MSR activities about 40 nautical miles west of Bajo de Masinloc, was last spotted 185 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales.
'The BEI DIAO 996 is a civilian research vessel with dual-use capabilities, specializing in testing underwater acoustic sensors and sonar equipment. It is China's largest test ship for deep-sea operations and the world's largest SWATH catamaran, designed for stable performance in adverse weather,' Tarriela said.
Zhu Hai Yun and Xiang Yang Hong 10, which movements indicate joint MSR operations near Balagtas Reef in Spratlys Islands, were last seen 195 nautical miles off the coast of Rizal, Palawan.
'The XIANG YANG HONG 10 is a multi-purpose research vessel capable of deep-sea surveys and supporting unmanned autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for seafloor mapping and environmental monitoring. It features icebreaking capabilities and a dynamic positioning system for precise operations,' Tarriella said.
'The ZHUHAI YUN, the world's first intelligent unmanned drone carrier, is designed for oceanographic research but has significant military dual-use potential, including mapping submarine routes and deploying smart mine,' he added.
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. — RF, GMA Integrated News
