PCG challenges Chinese research vessel surveying West PH Sea for 22 days

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confronted a Chinese research vessel that has been allegedly surveying the West Philippine Sea (WPS) for 22 days now.

- By MARTIN SADONGDONG

PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan ordered the deployment of an aircraft on Saturday, Aug. 2, to conduct a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight over the waters of Cagayan after the agency monitored Chinese research vessel “Xiang Yang Hong 05” approximately 37 nautical miles off the coast of Santa Ana town.

During the MDA flight, the PCG said the research vessel was physically sighted at a distance of 14.92 nautical miles from Babuyan Island.

“The vessel was challenged by the PCG aircraft but did not respond,” PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a statement Sunday, Aug. 3.

According to the PCG, the research vessel departed from Guangdong province, China on June 5 en route to WPS. It entered the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on June 7, approximately 130 nautical miles from Burgos, Ilocos Norte. It left on June 9 but reentered the EEZ last July 31.

"Based on its historical track, the Xiang Yang Hong 05 conducted substantial marine scientific research for almost 22 days after departing the Philippine EEZ and before re-entering," Tarriela said.

"This research occurred along a parallel track in the Pacific Ocean, close to Guam at a distance of 42 nautical miles," he added.

The research vessel was last monitored 86 nautical miles from Calayan Island, Cagayan on Saturday morning.

The PCG said the research vessel was a relatively new addition to China's fleet of research vessels illegally operating in the WPS as it did not secure a permit from the Philippine government before conducting maritime research within the country's waters.

It said the Xiang Yang Hong series has been associated with supporting the People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) operations, dating back to the original vessels that participated in distant-water research and ballistic missile trials during the 1970s and 1980s.

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