PCG sends aircraft to challenge Chinese research vessel near Batanes

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday deployed anew an aircraft to monitor and challenge a Chinese research vessel near Itbayat, Batanes.

In a statement, PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said Zhong Shan Da Xue was located 78.21 nautical miles northeast of Itbayat on Tuesday morning.

“The crew of the PCG Islander attempted to establish radio communication with the vessel multiple times, but there was no response,” Tarriela said.

“PCG aviators underscored on their radio challenge that the said Chinese vessel lacks the authority to conduct marine scientific research within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines, emphasizing that its activities constitute a clear violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act,” he added.

On April 7, the PCG also sent an aircraft to challenge Zhong Shan Da Xue.

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

The Chinese research ship entered the Philippines’ EEZ up north on April 2.

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

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 the 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. –NB, GMA Integrated News