CHINA Coast Guard’s (CCG) so-called “monster ship” is leaving the vicinity of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), ending months of its intimidating presence in the area, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Friday.
“The 5901 is moving southwards; there is a possibility that it will go in other exclusive economic zones,” PCG spokesman for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said on the update on their monitoring of the CCG vessel with bow number 5901 during a regular briefing.
“This is the first time we see China Coast Guard’s monster ship, (after) loitering in Bajo de Masinloc, and all of a sudden it’s going downwards,” Tarriela said.
Spotted in the western section of the Philippine exclusive economic zone since December 2024, the “monster ship” was deemed the largest armed coast guard cutter in the world.
At 165 meters long, 22 meters wide (about one and a half times the length of a standard football field), and weighing 12,000 tons, CCG 5901 is an imposing vessel.
While the ship’s course seemed to head south toward the Kalayaan group of islands, Tarriela noted that its next destination remained uncertain.
“That’s a very tough question, we still don’t know,” he said when asked about the possible reason for its departure and destination.
Tarriela pointed out however, that based on previous years’ voyage tracks, the CCG 5901passed through the EEZs of Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Beijing-occupied Paracel Islands before returning to the Chinese mainland.
“So there is a possibility that after staying for so long at Bajo de Masinloc area and off the coast of Zambales, it will just move the usual rotation,” he added.
A maritime expert pointed out that a “monster ship” mimics China’s "ten-dash-line" claim in the South China Sea.
In 2024, SeaLight director Ray Powell observed that the ship's route was meant to highlight the extent of China’s maritime claims, intentionally passing key locations within the disputed area.