QUEZON CITY— The Philippine Coast Guard is still monitoring the activities of Chinese marine scientific vessel Jia Hai Ke that was seen loitering 37 nautical miles from the northwest of Itbayat, Zambales.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said they have disrupted the illegal activities of the vessel.
Three Taiwan Coast Guard vessels were also monitored waiting for the Chinese research vessel to go beyond the Philippine exclusive economic zone.
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"It is surprising that even the Taiwan Coast Guard was also seriously looking into the illegal MSR na posibleng gawin ng Chinese research vessel na ito," Tarriela said.
He clarified that under UNCLOS, marine research activities require consent or authority from the coastal state, and that the DFA did not issue anything with the case of the China's Jia Hai Ke.
"Itong Chinese research vessel na ito, kaya ito concerning is because it has the capability to locate some sea cables," Tarriela said.
"Ibig sabihin, underneath sa karagatan. itong critical infrastructure natin, yung sub-sea cables which is our national interest concerning telecommunications, banking, and connectivity," he added.
"China has been always identified as the vessel na nagconduct nito. Chinese government will not admit it but China is always the notorious country who has always been mentioned whenever there are accidental or intentional cutting off subsea cables," Tarriela said.
He said foreign vessels can only cross the Philippine EEZ with the freedom of navigation, but not conduct any study or activity in it.
PCG drives away Chinese research vessel from Batanes
He said the vessel loitered and positioned itself stationarily near Batanes.
"We suspect she also dropped some instrument to carry out an illegal MSR," Tarriela added.
Tarriela also blasted the Chinese embassy for seemingly flipflopping on their position with their researchers and scholars.
Earlier this year, Chinese scholars claimed Batanes was part of their territory, and the embassy said they have no control on the position of their independent scholars.
Meanwhile, today, the Chinese embassy said the PH is disrupting their marine science research which is within their jurisdiction.
"Gusto ko interviewhin ng media si Ambassador Jing Quan, itanong kung ang position ng China has changed already," Tarriela said.