The Philippine Coast Guard said it monitored unauthorized marine scientific research activities by a Chinese research vessel near Cay-2 and Cay-3 close to Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea over the weekend.
In a statement, the PCG said it monitored the Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 33 on May 16. The vessel is equipped to support submersibles, map the seafloor, gather deep-sea data, and conduct marine ecological studies.
“The vessel was escorted by Chinese Coast Guard vessels CCG 5101 and CCG 5309, which deployed rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) and rubber boats. Chinese personnel were observed landing and conducting illegal activities on Cay-2 before proceeding to Cay-3,” the PCG said.
The PCG said the Xiang Yang Hong 33 departed Guangzhou, China on April 15 and entered the West Philippine Sea on April 18.
Since entering the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, the vessel “has been systematically conducting illegal MSR activities across multiple features in Philippine waters,” the agency added.
The PCG said its Islander 4177 aircraft conducted a maritime domain awareness flight over the Kalayaan Island Group on Sunday and issued multiple radio challenges to the Chinese vessels.
“The flight monitored the unauthorized operations near Sandy Cay 2 and confirmed the presence of the Chinese research vessel and its support vessels engaged in MSR without the consent of the Philippine government. The MDA flight also documented twenty (20) Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels (CMMVs) scattered in the surrounding waters of Sandy Cay 3 and 4,” the PCG said.
The agency said the activities violated Philippine sovereignty and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The PCG said China did not secure Philippine consent to conduct marine scientific research activities within the country’s territorial waters.
“The PCG remains steadfast in defending our maritime zones. We will not allow any unauthorized foreign research or incursions into our territorial sea in Pag-asa Island in accordance with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” said PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila, responding to remarks by PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela, described the statements as a “dangerous and misguided” approach.
“Turning a regional maritime dispute into a domestic political tool does nothing to ease tensions or solve problems,” Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei said.
“The so-called ‘routine maritime domain awareness flight’ was clearly not routine at all. Tarriela deliberately brought politicians onboard in recent months and heavily promoted the mission through the media,” Guo added.
Pag-asa Island is located about 277 miles from mainland Palawan and forms part of the Kalayaan Island Group in the disputed West Philippine Sea.
