China ship ‘appears’ surveying off Scarborough Shoal – monitor

This photo shows a Google map of Scarborough Shoal. A Chinese 104-meter research vessel appears to be surveying off Scarborough or Panatag Shoal, a West Philippine Sea monitor said Monday, June 17, 2024. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese 104-meter research vessel appears to be surveying off Scarborough or Panatag Shoal, a West Philippine Sea monitor said Monday.

“China’s research ship Haiyang Dizhi 4 Hao has moved into the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, where it appears to have begun a survey,” Sealight director Ray Powell said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Powell later told INQUIRER.net that the China ship was observed northwest of Panatag Shoal.

READ: 2 Chinese research vessels ‘loitering’ at Philippine Rise

China seized control of Panatag Shoal’s lagoon in 2012 after the China Coast Guard’s standoff with Philippine vessels.

Its actions stem from its assertion that it owns almost the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, even if an international tribunal ruling on a case filed by Manila in 2013 has effectively invalidated such a claim in July 2016.

The landmark decision also covered Panatag Shoal – a declared traditional fishing ground that should be shared by the Philippines, China, and Vietnam.

READ: AFP: Chinese ship seen near Catanduanes possibly on survey mission

Since January this year, Chinese research ships were spotted inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In the Philippines (Benham) Rise, a total of three Chinese research ships were detected in March and April.

Benham Rise is a 24 million hectares undersea feature that is part of the Philippine continental shelf and located inside the country’s EEZ.