The Philippine Coast Guard announced it will deploy vessels and aircraft to challenge and drive away Chinese research ships conducting unlawful marine scientific research in the West Philippine Sea. Four Chinese vessels were detected operating in Philippine waters without government consent. The PCG emphasized that foreign marine scientific research requires prior government authorization.
In a statement on Sunday, May 3, Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said four Chinese research vessels were detected operating within Philippine waters without government consent using Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection System.
The vessels were identified as XIANGYANGHONG 33, stationary about 140.47 nautical miles northwest of Rizal, Palawan, near Quirino Atoll; SHI YAN 1, underway about 118 nautical miles west of Itbayat, Batanes; JIA GENG, underway about 88.36 nautical miles northeast of Itbayat; and ZHUHAIYUN, stationary about 102.11 nautical miles northwest of Bajo de Masinloc, or 171.18 nautical miles west of Bolinao, Pangasinan.
"The activities violate Philippine sovereignty, as foreign marine scientific research requires authorization from the government," Tarriela said. He added the PCG would send assets to assert Philippine jurisdiction and ensure the vessels cease their activities.
The deployment aims to “challenge and drive away” the ships operating without clearance, the PCG reiterated, stressing that any marine scientific research in Philippine waters needs prior government authorization.