The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it challenged a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel monitored within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Zambales.
In a statement Wednesday, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said China Coast Guard vessel CCG-4305 was spotted about 48 nautical miles west of Pandaquit, Zambales.
PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan ordered the deployment of aerial and surface assets after the vessel’s presence inside the Philippine EEZ was confirmed, the agency said.
The PCG said its Piper Navajo 302 aircraft departed from La Union Airport on Tuesday morning to conduct a maritime domain awareness flight over the area.
Tarriela said the Filipino aircrew issued several radio challenges to the Chinese vessel and conducted multiple passes to document the incident before returning to base.
The PCG also dispatched BRP Cape San Agustin to the area, where personnel issued radio challenges throughout the day.
According to Tarriela, the Chinese vessel initially acknowledged one radio challenge in the morning but later stopped responding.
“Notably, CCG-4305 provided no lawful basis for its presence within the Philippines’ EEZ,” Tarriela said.
The PCG said it would continue to oppose what it described as the “normalization of illegal patrols” by Chinese vessels off the coast of Zambales.
Tarriela said the activities violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, and the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea dispute.
“The PCG remains resolute in defending the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction through sustained MDA flights, vessel deployments, and lawful enforcement operations across the West Philippine Sea,” Gavan said.
