Chinese ship capable of deep sea mapping leaves PH’s EEZ
A Chinese research ship earlier spotted off the coast of a town in Ilocos Norte and within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), has left the area as of Tuesday morning, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said in a press briefing that the Chinese research vessel Tan Suo 3 was last seen 460 kilometers off the coast of Burgos town as of 10 a.m.
According to him, the Chinese vessel first entered the country’s EEZ, approximately 170 km off the coast of Burgos town, on May 1.
Tarriela said the PCG sent one of its largest and most modern vessels, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, and a PCG aircraft to challenge the Chinese ship’s presence on May 5 but received no response.
“It’s worrisome in a way because these Chinese research vessels have the capability for deep-sea mapping. And there is a possibility that they are also doing this kind of deep-sea mapping in support of their submarine navigation,” he told reporters.
PCG assets, Tarriela added, also monitored a manned deep-sea submersible vessel heading for Tan Suo 3.
“During the operation, the PCG spotted a manned deep-sea submersible vessel fast approaching the Chinese research vessel, which was later retrieved by its crew,” he said.
“This submersible, known as the Shenhai Yongshi or Deep-Sea Warrior, is engineered for deep-sea exploration and scientific research, with the capability to dive to depths of 4,500 meters,” Tarriela said.
Unidentified equipment
He further reported that the Chinese also deployed a rigid hull inflatable boat to recover a yellow-colored unidentified piece of equipment, which is associated with China’s marine scientific research activities.
Tarriela said the deployment of BRP Teresa Magbanua and a Coast Guard vessel proved “successful in preventing the Chinese government from doing marine scientific research and whatever research they are conducting in our exclusive economic zone.”
In a statement on Monday, he called the irregular movements of the Chinese ships “inconsistent with the freedom of navigation and indicative of marine scientific research activities, which violate the sovereign rights of the Philippines.”
These actions of the Chinese research vessel, he added, “serve as clear evidence” that China is conducting illegal marine scientific research activities within the Philippines’ EEZ despite lacking the legal authority to undertake such activities.
