PCG: As ‘monster’ sails away, another China ship nears Zambales coast

MANILA, Philippines — China’s “monster” ship moved away from the Zambales coast while another vessel approached the area, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

In a statement on Sunday night, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the agency’s BRP Gabriela Silang (MRRV-8371) “observed the relief and assumption of two Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels.”

“At approximately 3 p.m., CCG-5901 (the monster ship) moved further away from the PCG vessel (BRP Gabriela Silang), while another vessel, CCG-3304, approached the coast of Zambales,” Tarriela said.

READ: WPS: Deadlines, ultimatums vs China ‘monster ship’ beyond PCG mandate – Tarriela

“As of 9 p.m., CCG-5901 was monitored at an approximate distance of 95 nautical miles from the coast of Zambales, with CCG-3304 at 65 nautical miles,” he added.

Although the monster ship left the area, Tarriela pointed out that its replacement was still larger than BRP Gabriela Silang—the largest PCG vessel.

“CCG-3304 measures 111 meters in length and 46 meters in width. Despite this, the 83-meter BRP Gabriela Silang continues to diligently fulfill its patriotic mission of challenging the unlawful presence of the Chinese Coast Guard,” he said.

Aside from this, Tarriela also revealed that the agency has been conducting “hourly radio challenges to remind the Chinese crew that their operations within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone breach the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which they are a signatory, and blatantly violate the 2016 Arbitral Award that nullified their nine-dash line claim.”

Earlier, the National Maritime Council (NMC) asked the Chinese government to withdraw its monster ship within the Philippine’s EEZ, according to National Task Force West Philippine Sea spokesperson Jonathan Malaya.

This call came after the NMC announced that the Philippine government filed a diplomatic protest against the continued illegal presence and operations of CCG vessels within the country’s EEZ.

Beijing’s continued aggression was based on its assertion of sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, as it continues to reject the 2016 arbitral ruling that effectively dismissed its claims and ruled in favor of Manila.