China's ‘monster ship’ returned to Bajo de Masinloc -PCG

The China Coast Guard’s (CCG) massive vessel 5901, known as the “monster ship,” has returned to the waters near Bajo de Masinloc, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed Friday.

PCG West Philippine Sea (WPS) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela reported that two CCG vessels were spotted in Bajo de Masinloc, while three others remained off the Zambales coast.

“Well, right now, nag-swap ulit si CCG 3304 and CCG 5901. CCG 5901 is once again back in the vicinity of Bajo De Masinloc at a distance of 120 nautical miles,” Tarriela said. 

"CCG 3304 is the one trying to replace 5901 as it maintained [China's] illegal presence off the coast of Zambales at a distance of 105 nautical miles.” 

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. acknowledged Thursday that the Philippines could not force China's massive vessel out of its waters.

''Well, we don’t have the means na paalisin. Hindi naman – buti kung mayroon tayong aircraft carrier na may kasamang destroyer, frigate, at saka submarine na papupuntahin natin doon para matulak silang palayo. Wala naman tayong ganoon,'' Marcos said.

(We don’t have the means to expel them. If we had an aircraft carrier with destroyers, frigates, and submarines, we could push them away—but we don’t.)

He emphasized that while the Philippines lags behind China in fleet size and strength, the country will continue defending its territorial rights in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Despite the challenge, Tarriela said the PCG has been actively confronting Chinese vessels.

“I don't think that the President is saying that we cannot do it. As what we saw in the past days since January 4, the PCG vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua has vigilantly challenged and driven away the CCG monster ship from 54 nautical miles, now to as far as 110 to 120 nautical miles,” he said.

Tarriela noted that Marcos had approved the acquisition of five more 97-meter vessels from Japan and 40 additional vessels from France to strengthen the PCG.

“This information is an open book that the PCG would require more assets for us to safeguard our maritime rights, not just in the WPS, but for our entire maritime jurisdiction as an archipelagic country,” Tarriela said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reiterated Beijing’s claims over the South China Sea, arguing they were historically and legally justified. 

"The CCG conducts patrols and law enforcement activities in relevant waters in accordance with the law, which is fully justified," Guo said, urging the Philippines to cease its alleged provocations.

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, a key global trade route, overlapping with the claims of the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, stating China’s claims had “no legal basis.” 

However, Beijing refuses to recognize the ruling. — DVM, GMA Integrated News