PCG switches ships monitoring China vessels off Zambales coast

China Coast Guard ship 3105 off the coast of Zambales —Photo from the Philippine Coast Guard

MANILA, Philippines — Another Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel replaced the BRP Cabra in monitoring the illegal presence of Chinese ships off the Zambales coast and has successfully pushed one of them farther away from the province.

In a report on Sunday night, the PCG said BRP Cabra returned to port for “logistical reasons after a week-long deployment at sea.”

“Relatedly, the Chinese Coast Guard vessel (CCG) 5303 has also been replaced by CCG 3105,” the PCG said.

“The BRP Bagacay, a 44-meter patrol vessel, has successfully pushed the CCG 3105 further away, establishing a distance of approximately 95 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales,” it added.

READ: China Coast Guard vessel pushed back off Zambales coast — PCG

As for the CCG 5303, the PCG said it was last spotted in about the same area alongside the CCG 3301 which continues to illegally patrol the vicinity of Bajo De Masinloc.

Last February 12, the PCG reported that more Chinese vessels were recently monitored in Bajo de Masinloc.

It revealed that there were four Chinese vessels in the area, including the so-called monster ship — Chinese Coast Guard vessel 5901.

The PCG has been monitoring the movements of CCG vessels unlawfully operating within the country’s exclusive economic zone and near Zambales since January.

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.