The China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901, otherwise known as the “monster ship,” has replaced another Chinese vessel within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and positioned 97 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
In a statement on Saturday, the PCG said that the 165-meter, 12,000-ton monster ship replaced CCG-3304, which the PCG “gradually pushed away” from the Zambales coastline.
Despite this, the PCG said that its vessel, BRP Teresa Magbanua, blocked the attempts of the monster ship to move closer anew towards the Zambales coastline.
“This strategic maneuvering by the BRP Teresa Magbanua has prompted the People’s Republic of China to deploy the China Coast Guard 5901 ‘monster ship’ this afternoon, as they attempt to outmaneuver the PCG vessel,” the PCG said.
“Despite the imposing size of CCG-5901, the PCG vessel has boldly approached its starboard side at a close range, effectively hindering the China Coast Guard vessel’s attempts to move towards the Zambales coastline,” it added.
The PCG said it has consistently communicated over the radio, reminding the Chinese crew that they are unlawfully operating within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile EEZ and do not possess any legal authority to conduct maritime patrols within the area.
The monster ship—reputed as the largest coast guard ship in the world—was earlier spotted 54 nautical miles away from Capones Island, Zambales. It moved near Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro last Monday.
Malacañang viewed the presence of the Chinese vessel in the country’s EEZ with concern.
According to a ”24 Oras Weekend” report by Nico Waje on Saturday, the PCG saw two possible reasons as to why the CCG had been present near Zambales.
“They wanted to break the confidence ng ating mga kababayan (of our countrymen). Dahil alam naman natin kapag mas maraming sibilyan na mangingisdang Pilipino na pumupunta dito sa West Philippine Sea, (We all know that if there are more civilian fishermen that will head over to the West Philippine Sea,) it is actually a headache for the Chinese government,” PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said.
“They wanted to make it appear na parang (as if) this is the new normal. This is an altered status quo. So, our role now on the part of the Philippine Coast Guard is to challenge this kind of behavior of China para hindi sila magwagi sa narrative nila (so that they will not win the narrative),” he added.
China claims “indisputable sovereignty” over the entire waters of the South China Sea, where undersea gas deposits have been discovered in several areas. Its claims overlap with the offshore territories claimed by Asian neighbors surrounding the South China Sea.
In 2016, the Philippines scored a victory against China in a landmark ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The PCA ruled that “there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the nine-dash line.”
“[Although] two Chinese navigators and fishermen, as well as those of other States, had historically made use of the islands in the South China Sea, there was no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or their resources,” it added.
China has repeatedly said the PCA ruling is “illegal” and “invalid”.
Marcos has stood his ground that the West Philippine Sea belongs to the Filipinos amid China’s aggression in the resource-rich region.
West Philippine Sea is the name the Philippines uses to refer to portions of the South China Sea that falls within its exclusive economic zone and its jurisdiction. —KG, GMA Integrated News
