THREE Chinese research vessels have recently intruded into Philippine waters, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday.
In a statement, PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela named the research vessels as Bei Diao 996, Xiang Yang Hong 10, and Zhuhai Yun.
Tarriela said Bei Diao 996 left Guangdong, China on June 16 and entered the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) “roughly a week later.”
Tarriela said the vessel is involved in marine scientific research (MSR) about 40 nautical miles west of Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc.
China gained control of the shoal in 2012 after a standoff with Philippine government vessels. The Chinese have since prevented Filipinos from fishing inside the shoal’s lagoon.
“The Bei Diao 996 is a civilian research vessel with dual-use capabilities, specializing in testing underwater acoustic sensors and sonar equipment,” said Tarriela.
“It is China’s largest test ship for deep-sea operations and the world’s largest SWATH (small waterplane area twin hull) catamaran, designed for stable performance in adverse weather,” he also said.
Tarriela said Xiang Yang Hong 10 and Zhuhai Yun left Guangdong on June 23 and entered the Philippine EEZ two days later.
“Their movements indicate joint MSR operations near Balagtas Reef, and they are currently positioned 195 nautical miles off the coast of Rizal, Palawan,” he said.
Tarriela described Xiang Yang Hong 10 as a “multi-purpose research vessel capable of deep-sea surveys and supporting unmanned autonomous underwater vehicles for seafloor mapping and environmental monitoring.” It has icebreaking capabilities and is equipped with “dynamic positioning system for precise operations.”
Zhuhai Yun, Tarriela said, is the “world’s first intelligent unmanned drone carrier.”
It is “designed for oceanographic research but has significant military dual-use potential, including mapping submarine routes and deploying smart mines.”
Tarriela said the Chinese vessels “are suspected of engaging in illegal marine scientific research prompting the PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, to issue immediate orders to intercept and challenge them.”
In an online press briefing, Tarriela said it is China, not the Philippines, that is causing trouble in the West Philippine Sea.
Tarriela made the statement in response to the Chinese foreign ministry’s claim that Philippines is the real troublemaker in the South China Sea.
The Chinese statement came after Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr said the Philippines will respond to China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.
“We all know that Philippine Coast Guard vessels have experienced bullying from their end … We experienced water cannoning, ramming and even dangerous maneuvers by the Chinese Coast Guard,” said Tarriela.
