China Coast Guard vessel pushed back off Zambales coast — PCG

CAPTION: The track of China Coast Guard’s monster ship since Dec. 30, 2024. (PHOTO FROM THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD)

MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel was “successfully” pushed back 95 nautical miles off the Zambales coast, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Saturday.

The PCG said that the vessel with bow number 5303 replaced CCG-3101 on Saturday. 

“[t]he Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cabra continues to shadow the 134-meter China Coast Guard vessel with bow number 5303, despite adverse sea conditions characterized by wave heights of 5 to 8 feet,” PCG said in a statement. 

The PCG added that the crew members of BRP Cabra remain committed in pushing CCG-5303 away from the Philippine waters.

Meanwhile, PCG Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela on Friday said that CCG-5901, or regarded as the “monster ship”, was spotted 60.6 nautical miles away from Paracel Islands.

The said ship was spotted in the western section of the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) since December 2024.

On Wednesday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported that three Chinese vessels were observed within the Philippine EEZ during the joint patrols of AFP, and Canada and United States counterparts.

The Philippines filed an arbitration case against China in 2013 following tensions at Scarborough Shoal, where Chinese vessels blocked Philippine authorities and prohibited Filipino fishermen from accessing the area.

A 2016 Arbitration ruling affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea.