Coast Guard spots 3 Chinese research vessels in PH waters
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday said it was monitoring three Chinese research vessels operating without authorization within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The PCG spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said two of the vessels, Zhuhaiyun and Xiang Yang Hong 10, were detected west of Luzon.
In a separate statement, the PCG said the vessels’ activities prompted the Coast Guard Commandant, Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan, to issue orders to intercept and challenge them.
According to Tarriela, the Zhuhaiyun and Xiang Yang Hong 10 left Guangdong Province on June 23 and entered the Philippine EEZ on July 25.
Continuously moving
Zhuhaiyun was spotted 363 kilometers (195.94 nautical miles) off the coast of Rizal, Palawan, while Xiang Yang Hong 10 was tracked 357 km (192.95 nautical miles) from the same area. They were seen moving near Balagtas (Irving) Reef on Thursday morning.
“Right now, both Chinese research vessels are continuously moving. We have already alerted our Coast Guard district in Palawan, and the commandant has also directed the deployment of a vessel to ensure we can monitor their activities,” Tarriela told reporters.
The PCG is also tracking a third Chinese vessel, Bei Diao 996, which left Guangdong on June 16 and was first spotted in Philippine waters on July 23.
Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection Program was used to track the vessels.
Bei Diao 996 was seen operating some 343 km (185 nautical miles) off Zambales and appeared to be conducting marine scientific research (MSR) about 74 km (40 nautical miles) west of Bajo de Masinloc.
The vessel is considered China’s largest deep-sea test ship and the world’s largest SWATH catamaran, designed for high stability in rough seas.
Meanwhile, the Zhuhaiyun is known as the world’s first unmanned drone carrier for oceanographic research, with reported military dual-use capabilities, such as submarine route mapping and smart mine deployment.
Multipurpose craft
The Xiang Yang Hong 10 is a multipurpose research vessel capable of deep-sea surveys and supporting autonomous underwater vehicles. It also has icebreaking capabilities and a dynamic positioning system for precise maritime operations.
Tarriela said the PCG was closely observing the movements of three vessels to verify whether they are conducting unauthorized MSR within Philippine waters.
Proper documentation is necessary for the Coast Guard to formally report any illegal activities to the concerned authorities, he said.
