PH Coast Guard monitors Chinese vessels conducting 'search patterns' in West PH Sea

Several Chinese vessels were observed by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to be conducting “search patterns” off Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

- By MARTIN SADONGDONG

The PCG reported this after the reported collision of the Chinese coast guard and navy vessels on Monday, Aug. 11.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 12, PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said the Chinese vessels were monitored to be moving in a parallel sweep pattern which indicates a systematic search method.

“While we are monitoring the damaged China Coast Guard [vessel], we saw some of the China Coast Guard vessels were in the vicinity. They launched their own rigid hull inflatable boats and they appeared to be searching for something or somebody,” he said.

“I cannot confirm the real intention of the Chinese maritime forces why are they doing such search parallel patterns,” he added.