MANILA -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday challenged a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel monitored loitering 36 nautical miles northwest of Cabra Island in Lubang, Occidental Mindoro, and dispatched a patrol ship to verify its presence.
ABS-CBN News joined the PCG’s maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight, during which the PCG aircraft issued a radio challenge to the Chinese warship, citing the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
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The PCG told the Chinese vessel it had no legal authority to operate within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and directed it to leave immediately.
PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela identified the vessel as CCG 3303, one of the ships deployed in Bajo de Masinloc.
He said the same vessel used water cannon against BRP Datu Cabaylo in July.
“This morning, we were able to see CCG 3303. Comparing the location of this CCG vessel last night and today, it seems that it’s just loitering around the waters off Occidental Mindoro,” Tarriela told reporters.
He added that the PCG had dispatched BRP Teresa Magbanua to confirm the Chinese vessel’s proximity to Occidental Mindoro.
“As we speak right now, BRP Teresa Magbanua is on its way,” he said.
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Tarriela described the Chinese vessel’s presence near Lubang town as unusual, recalling that similar activity had previously been observed during Coast Guard exercises in Manila Bay involving the United States and Japan.
“Other than that, wala namang ibang instances na tumatambay ang CCG vessels,” he said. “Sometimes, they go to Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan, but not in Mindoro.”
Tarriela said the PCG’s radio challenge and deployment were intended to prevent China from normalizing its presence in the area and ensure continued monitoring of illegal Chinese activities in the West Philippine Sea.