Kinumpirma ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) na isang Chinese research vessel ang nakita nitong Miyerkules ng umaga sa karagatang sakop ng Pilipinas-- hindi sa West Philippine Sea, kung hindi sa silangang bahagi ng Palawan na nakaharap sa Visayas at Mindanao.

Sa news forum na Kapihan sa Manila Bay, sinabi ni PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela, na nakita ang Chinese research ship na Song Hang sa layong 58 nautical miles sa silangan ng Aborlan sa Palawan.

"I would just like to confirm that there is a presence of the Chinese research vessel. This is an ongoing operation. And I am not authorized to disclose the full details," anang opisyal.

"As of 8 a.m. this morning, the PCG monitored the Chinese research vessel Song Hang at a distance of approximately 58 nautical miles east of Aborlan, Palawan," dagdag niya.

Ayon kay Tarriela, nagpadala ang PCG ng eroplano upang magsagawa ng maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight sa nasabing lugar at hamunin ang presensiya roon ng Chinese research ship.

"The PCG deployed our aircraft this morning to challenge the presence of this Chinese research vessel. As of this time, we are still doing the MDA flight as we monitor the presence of this Chinese research vessel," sabi ni Tarriela.

"We are challenging them that they are not authorized area of marine scientific research and that they are advised to leave the area," dagdag niya.

Sa isang post sa X (dating Twitter), unang iniulat nitong Martes ni Ray Powell, dating opisyal ng US Air Force at ex-Defence Attaché, na nakita ang Chinese fisheries research ship na Song Hang na dumadaan sa karagatan ng Pilipinas na patungong Celebes Sea.

Nitong Miyerkules, sinabi ni Powell na makikita sa automatic identification system (AIS) ng Song Hang na patungo sa Southeast Indian Ocean.

"However: There's NO navigational reason for it to be in the Philippines' archipelagic waters. All China’s research vessels are assumed to be dual-use intelligence collectors," ani Powell.

Hinihingan pa ng GMA News Online ng komento ang Chinese Embassy sa Manila kaugnay sa naturang research vessel. —mula sa ulat ni Joviland Rita/FRJ, GMA Integrated News