The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) continues to vigilantly monitor the presence of Chinese maritime forces in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), particularly near the Zambales coastline, where China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901 was last spotted.
In an update posted late Thursday, PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela noted that Beijing’s fleet has been roaming around the Philippine waters for 13 days or two weeks now in violation of national and international maritime laws.
The PCG through BRP Gabriela Silang is actively blocking China’s biggest vessel, nicknamed ‘The Monster’ in defense of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and maritime boundaries.
“The brave men and women aboard the PCG vessel have successfully ensured that the significantly larger Chinese vessel remains at least 70 nautical miles from the coast of Zambales province,” Tarriela reported on X (formerly Twitter).
Through radio communications, the PCG reiterated that the presence of the CCG violates the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
“Tracking data for the entire day has shown that the movements of the China Coast Guard vessel are inconsistent with the principles established under UNCLOS. Freedom of navigation requires continuous and expeditious passage, and it is essential to note that this freedom does not permit illegal patrols by foreign vessels within the EEZ of another state,” Tarriela said.
The PCG emphasized that if China is genuinely committed to de-escalating tensions and sincerely seeks to foster mutual trust and cooperation between both nations, as articulated by CCG-5901 over the radio, the Chinese government must respect the Philippines’ sovereign rights in our EEZ.
“The PCG vessel, with its primary duty to protect the maritime interests of our country, will continue its presence in the area in accordance with both domestic and international law. In contrast, the claims made by the China Coast Guard have already been invalidated by the 2016 Arbitral Award, which is final and legally binding on both the People’s Republic of China and the Philippines,” Tarriela said.
Meanwhile, the Philippine and Chinese governments have agreed to continue honoring the “provisional arrangement” for the country’s unhampered rotation and resupply (RORE) missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal during their latest bilateral consultation mechanism (BCM), according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).