By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) monitored the intrusion of Chinese research and militia vessels in waters surrounding the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) during a routine Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight on Wednesday.
In a statement on Thursday, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said a Chinese oceanographic research vessel “Xiang Yang Hong 33,” escorted by Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel BN 5309, was found stationary approximately 7.34 nautical miles west of Rozul Reef.
“The vessel was actively deploying a service boat heading toward the reef, confirming ongoing unauthorized marine scientific research (MSR) operations,” Tarriela said.
Based on Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection (DVD) system, the Xiang Yang Hong 33 departed China on April 15 and has since been systematically conducting survey activities across multiple features within the Philippine exclusive economic zone.
“It was monitored at Ayungin Shoal from 20 to 22 April, accompanied by support vessels YUE XIA YU ZHI 20027 and 20026. The vessel then moved to Escoda Shoal from 22 to 28 April, conducted operations near Arellano Reef and Bulig Shoal from 28 April to 1 May, was monitored inside Panganiban Reef from 1 to 3 May, and operated at Quirino Atoll and Rozul Reef from 3 to 6 May. Since 6 May, the vessel has been tracked via AIS moving from Jacinto Reef to Diego Silang Reef,” the statement read.
In addition, PCG Island 4177 — the aircraft conducting the MDA operation — also spotted 28 Chinese maritime militia vessels anchored together and scattered around Cay 1 and Cay 2 of the KIG.
“One Chinese Coast Guard vessel (CCG 5101) was observed positioned approximately 2 nautical miles west of Pag-asa Island,” Tarriela said.
The actions of the Chinese vessels, he said, “constitute a clear and blatant violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).”
“Under UNCLOS, marine scientific research within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of a coastal state may be conducted only with the express consent of that state. The Philippines has not granted such consent to the PRC for any MSR activities in these waters,” he said.
The PCG official added that the presence of the Chinese ships is a serious infringement on Philippine sovereign rights and maritime jurisdictions, and “gross disrespect to UNCLOS in which they are a party.” (PNA)
