Chinese helicopter also patrolling Panatag – PCG

Aside from the so-called “monster ship” of the China Coast Guard (CCG), a helicopter of the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) was also spotted patrolling the area of Panatag Shoal, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commodore Jay Tarriela has reported.

- GHIO ONG

On its fourth day on Jan. 7, the CCG vessel with bow number 5901 – labeled as the world’s largest coast guard ship at 165 meters and 12,000 tons – apparently continued sailing “60-70 nautical miles from the coastline of Zambales,” according to Tarriela, PCG spokesman on West Philippine Sea concerns.

The huge ship was also 58 nautical miles west of Capones Point in Zambales, as well as 72 nautical miles east of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, also called Bajo de Masinloc, based on a video shared by Tarriela that showed PCG personnel pronouncing the coordinates of the Chinese ship. Panatag Shoal has been a traditional fishing area of Filipinos.

As of yesterday, however, CCG 5901 “has departed from the coastline of Zambales and is now approximately 90 nautical miles offshore,” Tarriela said.