West PH Sea: China ‘monster ship’ near Zambales ‘grave concern’ – Palace

LATEST SIGHTING The China Coast Guard “Monster” ship on Saturday was last spotted some 157 kilometers (85 nautical miles) from Zambales province in the West Philippine Sea, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) which took this photo before sunset from one of its vessels, the BRP Cabra. —PHOTO FROM PCG

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday expressed “grave concern” over the presence of China’s so-called monster ship off the coast of Zambales, adding that the Philippines is actively challenging its presence.

“We view it with concern, so far we have been challenging the presence of that monster ship,” Executive Lucas Bersamin said in a press conference.

According to Bersamin, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has been “very alert” since the appearance of the Chinese ship.

“It keeps appearing, and it is within our exclusive economic zone, so it is being challenged,” Bersamin said in a mix of English and Filipino. “There were many occasions when our coast guard vessels challenged theirs. China also issues counter-challenges, but it all works out in the end, and nothing confrontational happens.”

READ: China’s ‘monster ship’ off Zambales an act of aggression – NSC 

“The issue here may be projection, but I’m not going to say anything more because that is a matter of operations,” he added.

He reiterated that the Philippine government consistently issues diplomatic protests against China for its aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea. He also noted the existence of a permanent mechanism for discussions between Manila and Beijing—specifically the vice ministerial-level conference—aimed at the peaceful settlement of disputes in the West Philippine Sea.

The so-called “monster ship,” Chinese Coast Guard Vessel 5901, was detected 100 kilometers (54 nautical miles) from Capones Island using Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection system.

READ: ‘Monster’ still in PH waters, ignores PCG call to leave

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), in response, deployed its BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) to shadow the ship and assert the country’s presence in the area.

These developments occurred amid a long-time territorial dispute after China, through its so-called 10-dash line, claimed ownership of most of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, which is well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

China’s 10-dash claims were effectively invalidated by a July 2016 international tribunal ruling that stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013, but the Asian giant has continued to ignore the ruling and persistently encroaches on the Philippines’ EEZ.