A CHINESE vessel is conducting a survey near the Philippine coastline, American maritime expert Raymond Powell said yesterday.

The research vessel Haiyang Dizhi 12 Hao is escorted by six Chinese maritime militia vessels, Powell said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“China is now conducting a survey-in-force just 27nm (nautical miles) from the Philippines’ coastline with 6 Qiong Sansha Yu militia ships escorting the Haiyang Dizhi 12 Hao research vessel,” he said.

Powell’s tweet was accompanied by an image showing the track of the vessels near Palawan.

“Surveying another country’s exclusive economic zone requires that country’s permission per UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” he said.

Military officials have yet to comment.

Authorities have also monitored the presence of Chinese research vessels in Philippine waters, including in the contested West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea, in the past.

Some of these research vessels were seen at Escoda Shoal, also known as Sabina Shoal, about 70 nautical miles from mainland Palawan.

In April, the Philippine Coast Guard deployed one of its ships to the shoal after discovering a pileup of corals in the area, which is seen as an indication of China’s small-scale reclamation.

The vessel, BRP Teresa Magbanua, was pulled out from the shoal on September 14, primarily due to bad weather. A number of Chinese vessels are said to be still in the area.

On Monday, Powell said China has sent eight additional militia vessels to the shoal.

NEW NAVY SHIPS

The Navy’s Philippine Fleet yesterday said it received two additional Fast Attack Interdiction Craft (FAIC) produced by Israeli shipbuilder at Pier 15, South Harbor in Manila last September 17.

The two missile-capable vessels are part of the nine FAICS that were ordered by the defense department from Israel Shipyards for P10 billion under the AFP modernization program.

The two brought to eight the number of FAICs so far delivered to the Navy since 2022.

Fleet spokesman Lt. Giovanni Badidles said the two vessels will be assigned the bow numbers PG908 and PG909.

“Similar to their predecessors, the newly delivered platforms are designed for high-speed operations, featuring advanced missile systems and sophisticated onboard technology, which enhances the Philippine Navy’s capability to conduct rapid and effective maritime interdiction operations,” Badidles said of the newly-delivered vessels.

RULES-BASED ORDER

Foreign Affairs Secretary yesterday asked nations to work together to address global challenges in such areas as peace and security, climate change, and human rights.

Manalo made the appeal in his speech as head of the Philippine delegation to the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, where the country is campaigning for one of the 10 non-permanent seats in the UN Security Council for 2027-2028.

No multilateral meeting has been set with China on the sidelines of the UNGA meeting regarding the South China Sea dispute.

Manalo, speaking at the opening ceremony of the UN “Summit of the Future,” said upholding a rules-based international order is a collective duty of nations.

“Multilateralism, with the UN at the center, flourishes on the grounds of a rules-based order that provides conditions for trust, solidarity, equity, and peace. Respect for the rule of law safeguards global peace and security and enables the international community to confront complex current and future challenges together,” Manalo said.

“As a founding member of the UN and the first Asian Republic, the Philippines shall always be a voice for peace, equity, justice, human rights and human dignity, the role of law and constructive multilateralism,” he added.

Manalo’s appeal came as the Philippines faces an increasingly aggressive China in the West Philippine Sea, blocking and ramming Filipino vessels doing patrols and resupply missions.

At the summit, world leaders adopted the UN Pact for the Future, which aims to commit UN member states to revive global cooperation to 58 actions in five areas, including international peace and security.

The pact also puts forward measures to reform the UN Security Council, the organization’s most important body tasked to maintain international peace and security.

The UN Security Council has five permanent members, the so-called “Big Five” —  the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China.

The current temporary members are Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, and the United Arab Emirates.

“This is the essence of the 1982 Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Resolution of Dispute. In pledging to the pact, states abide by the obligation of rejecting force and the threat of use of force to settle disputes,” Manalo said.

“The pact can guide the UN in delivering meaningful outcomes for peace and security, for human rights, for fairness and equality, for resilience from crisis and disasters and for empowering individuals and all communities in the world,” he added.

Manalo said the pact must also address establishing norms to prevent an arms race in space, govern lethal autonomous weapons and the danger posed by emerging technologies to international peace and security.

Meanwhile, no multilateral meeting has been set with China on the sidelines of the UNGA meeting regarding the South China Sea dispute. – With Ashzel Hachero