PCG vessel drives away Chinese Navy warship in Palawan

A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel successfully drove away a Chinese Navy warship spotted in Marie Louise Bank in Palawan last week.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo on Monday said they had obtained a report last July 13 stating that BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) saw a Chinese Navy warship in the area, prompting personnel of the PCG vessel to issue a radio challenge against the foreign ship.

The BRP Cabra also went near the Chinese Navy warship so it could monitor its activities.

The foreign ship did not respond to the radio challenge and this prompted BRP Cabra to use its long range acoustic device to issue a verbal challenge against the warship.

Following this, the Chinese ship started to move away from Marie Louise Bank. The BRP Cabra then followed the vessel to ensure that it would leave the said waters, which is part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

Upon reaching a distance of 0.25 to 0.30 nautical miles from the PCG vessel, the Chinese Navy warship then sent a radio message to BRP Cabra:

"Philippine Coast Guard 4409, this is Chinese Navy Warship 189. Please keep two nautical miles distance from me,” the Chinese Navy warship said.

The BRP Cabra continued to monitor the warship using the Rules on the Use of Force until the foreign vessel completely exited the Marie Louise Bank.

The PCG said the BRP Cabra also expelled five Chinese shops and two Vietnamese vessels in Marie Louise Bank last June 30.

The vessel's monitoring in the area and other parts of the Kalayaan Island Group is part of its mission under Task Force Pagsasanay.—AOL, GMA News