A CHINESE research vessel has entered the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and is now conducting marine scientific research off Batanes, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday.
Meanwhile, a vessel of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) spotted near Zambales continued to conduct “dangerous maneuvers” against a ship of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), according to Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea.
Tarriela, in a briefing, said the 114-meter research ship Zhong Shan Da Xue, with a gross tonnage of 2,300, left Guangdong in China on May 31 and entered the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on April 2. It has since stayed within the EEZ and has been “conducting maritime scientific research because of its consistent patterns of navigation.”
As of 7 a.m. yesterday, the vessel was some 103 nautical miles from Itbayat, Zambales, he said.
The presence of the Chinese vessel was first reported by US maritime expect Raymond Powell. On Sunday, Powell said the vessel has been loitering in Batanes since Thursday last week.
Tarriela said PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan ordered the deployment of a PCG aircraft to “challenge” the Chinese vessel and to document its “unlawful activity.”
“The commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard will most likely deploy a Coast Guard vessel to challenge this kind of illegal activity of the People’s Republic of China,” he said.
Tarriela said China’s maritime scientific research in the area was a “clear violation” of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which provides coastal states like the Philippines a 200-nautical mile EEZ. That coastal state has the exclusive rights to explore and exploit natural resources within its EEZ.
Tarriela said the Philippine government has not given the Chinese clearance to conduct maritime scientific research in the area.
He urged China to respect the sovereign rights of the Philippines and “stop doing scientific research in somebody else’s exclusive economic zone.”
On Tuesday last week, another Chinese research vessel, Song Hang, was monitored off Palawan but did not commit any infraction. It came from Shanghai, China and headed to Indian Ocean.
CCG VESSEL
On the Chinese vessel CCG-3302 that was sighted last Saturday, Tarriela said it was about 96 to 98 nautical miles from Palauig, Zambales as of 7 a.m. yesterday, and continued to conduct dangerous maneuvers against BRP Cabra yesterday.
“Throughout the afternoon, CCG-3302 made multiple attempts to ram the raft of the BRP Cabra,” he said.
He said the Chinese deployed another vessel, with bow number 21612, to help in the harassment of BRP Cabra.
“Due to the PCG vessel’s superior maneuverability, the China Coast Guard deployed a smaller, faster vessel, CCG-21612, to further attempt to ram the PCG vessel,” he said.
“Despite these aggressive actions, the professionalism, composure, and seamanship of the PCG sailors have successfully outmatched the reckless tactics employed by the two China Coast Guard vessels. The BRP Cabra continues to shadow and challenge CCG-3302, demonstrating unwavering resolve in the face of intimidation,” said Tarriela.
‘DECISIVE ACTION’
Senate President pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada yesterday asked government to take “decisive action” against China by bringing the Sunday incident to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
“The incident – an attempted head-on collision with the smaller BRP Cabra – was a clear violation of the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, to which China is a signatory,” Estrada said in a statement.
He said China’s “unending reckless and dangerous maneuvers” on Philippine vessels highlight its continued threat to peace and security in the region.
“The China Coast Guard’s latest stunt, which once again put the lives of Filipino maritime personnel at risk, displayed blatant disregard for maritime safety and international norms. This reckless behavior is deeply concerning and warrants unequivocal condemnation,” he added.
Senate majority leader Francis Tolentino said the CCG’s dangerous maneuvers against the Philippine Coast Guard is condemnable.
“Not only did this aggressive maneuver endanger the lives of our brave maritime personnel, but also constitutes a blatant violation of international law and the Philippines sovereign rights,” he said.
“As China continued to undermine our maritime peace and stability, I call on the international partners to hold China accountable for its blatant disregard for the rule of law,” he added.
On the presence of the Chinese research vessel near Batanes, which is close to Taiwan’s coast, Tolentino said this is also deeply concerning and needs attention.
He said he will support any plan to include Batanes in the upcoming “Balikatan” exercises with the US as it will send an unequivocal message “that the Philippines will not be intimidated.” – With Raymond Africa
