The Philippine Coast Guard said China’s so-called “Monster” ship is once again sailing deeper into the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and headed in the direction of Zambales province.
The China Coast Guard’s largest patrol vessel, CCG 5901 aka “The Monster,” appears to have relieved a smaller CCG ship and was spotted some 97 nautical miles [about 179 kilometers] off the coast of Zambales on Saturday.
In a statement on Sunday, the PCG disclosed it had deployed its most modern vessel to challenge Chinese patrol boats attempting to “alter the existing status quo” in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
PCG spokesman for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said the BRP Teresa Magbanua has blocked the Chinese behemoth’s attempts to move closer anew towards the Zambales coastline.
He said the deployment aimed to ensure Chinese patrols “are not normalized, and that this bullying behavior does not succeed.”
“Despite the imposing size of CCG-5901, the PCG vessel has boldly approached its starboard side at a close range, effectively hindering the China Coast Guard vessel’s attempts to move towards the Zambales coastline,” he added.
It was disclosed that the PCG consistently communicated over the radio, reminding the Chinese crew that they were unlawfully operating within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile EEZ and did not possess any legal authority to conduct maritime patrols within the area.
The PCG official said that Chinese patrol ships earlier this month had come as close as 60 nautical miles (111 kilometers) west of the main Philippine island of Luzon.
“Their goal is to normalize such deployments, and if these actions go unnoticed and unchallenged, it will enable them to alter the existing status quo,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the PCG called on the international community to take a stand against China’s escalating maritime aggression in the WPS, warning that unchecked actions by Beijing could embolden further territorial encroachments in Southeast Asia.
Tarriela emphasized the importance of exposing China’s unlawful deployments within the Philippines’ EEZ to prevent Beijing from normalizing its activities and altering the status quo.
He cautioned that China’s aggressive maneuvers are not just a threat to the Philippines but also to other nations with claims in the vast international waters such as Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
The PCG underscored the need for collective action to deter China’s provocations, stating that a united global front is crucial to upholding international maritime law and ensuring the sovereignty of nations in the region.
Malacañang also earlier expressed its concern over China’s continuing saber-rattling moves in the WPS, reiterating its commitment to protecting the country’s territorial integrity.