Tarriela: Chinese vessel dismantles platform in Bajo de Masinloc; another ship spotted

The National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) on Wednesday reported the removal of a floating platform and the departure of a Chinese research vessel from Bajo de Masinloc following consecutive maritime patrol flights this week.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) spokesperson Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said that during a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight conducted Tuesday by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Philippine Coast Guard, personnel observed the Chinese research vessel Yue Zhan Yu Ke 6 dismantling a floating platform and loading its components onto its stern.

Authorities said the Philippine aircraft repeatedly issued radio challenges against what they described as illegal marine scientific research activities during the patrol.

In a follow-up MDA flight conducted today using a PCG Cessna Caravan aircraft, authorities noted that the floating platform was no longer present in the shoal.

The Yue Zhan Yu Ke 6, which had earlier towed the structure and recovered its dismantled parts, was also no longer in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc.

However, a second vessel, identified as the smaller Chinese research ship Yue Xia Yu Zhi 20028, remained inside the shoal during the latest aerial patrol.

Both BFAR and the PCG said the MDA flights form part of routine monitoring of Philippine maritime waters amid continued foreign vessel presence in the area.

Yesterday, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, together with the Philippine Coast Guard, conducted a routine Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight and documented the Chinese Research Vessel YUE ZHAN YU KE 6 dismantling the floating platform and loading it onto her… pic.twitter.com/mYlAsNqUWS

— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) June 17, 2026