PCG sends aircraft to challenge Chinese research ship near Batanes

An aircraft has been deployed to challenge a Chinese research vessel near Batanes, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday.

In a press conference, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said PCG chief Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan gave instructions to document the actions of Chinese research vessel Zhong Shan Da Xue.

“As we speak right now, the commandant of the PCG has already directed our Coast Guard aircraft to challenge this Chinese research vessel and for us also to document such unlawful activity of the Chinese research vessel in our own exclusive economic zone up north,” Tarriela said.

According to Tarriela, Zhong Shan Da Xue — with length of 114 meters and tonnage of 2,300 — departed Guangdong Province in China on March 31.

The Chinese research ship entered the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) up north on April 2 around 9 p.m.

“Since then on, it stayed within our own EEZ, which is seemingly conducting maritime scientific research because of its consistent patterns of navigation,” Tarriela said.

As of 7 a.m. on Monday, Tarriela said Zhong Shan Da Xue was located 103.86 nautical miles from Itbayat, Batanes.

GMA News Online asked the Chinese Embassy in Manila about the matter but it has yet to provide a statement as of posting time.

On Saturday, the PCG also deployed its BRP Cabra after China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 3302 was seen moving closer off the coast of Palauig, Zambales around 83 to 85 nautical miles.

Tarriela said CCG 3302 conducted a dangerous maneuver against BRP Cabra as the Philippine ship issued radio challenges.

“BRP Cabra only has an overall length of 44 meters, and the CCG has an approximation of 99 meters. So you can just imagine how it would impact the possibility of collision,” Tarriela said.

“That's why through the seamanship skills of the PCG sailors, we were able to prevent such collision from happening,” he added.

Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

China has refused to recognize the decision. —KG, GMA Integrated News