PCG challenges Chinese research vessel off Babuyan Island

Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 05 was first tracked approximately 37 nautical miles off Sta. Ana coast, prompting the Philippine Coast Guard to dispatch one of its aircraft in the area on Saturday, August 2, 2025. — Photo from PCG

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has deployed its aircraft to conduct a maritime domain awareness (MDA) to monitor and challenge the presence of a Chinese research vessel off Babuyan Island.

PCG said Chinese vessel Xiang Yang Hong 05 was first tracked approximately 37 nautical miles off Sta. Ana coast, prompting it to dispatch one of its aircraft in the area on Saturday.

“The PCG aircraft successfully conducted its MDA flight yesterday afternoon and physically sighted the Xiang Yang Hong 05 at a distance of 14.92 nautical miles from Babuyan Island. The vessel was challenged by the PCG aircraft but did not respond,” the agency disclosed in a statement on Sunday.

READ: Chinese research vessels spotted in West PH Sea — Coast Guard

Based on its records, the PCG said Xiang Yang Hong 05 had previously departed from Guangdong province in China on June 5 en route to the West Philippine Sea.

It entered the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) two days later, on June 7. It was about 130 nautical miles from Burgos, Ilocos Norte, at that time, but it left on June 9.

Prior to reentering the EEZ on July 31, the PCG said Xiang Yang Hong 05 conducted substantial marine scientific research for almost 22 days.

“This research occurred along a parallel track in the Pacific Ocean, close to Guam at a distance of 42 nautical miles,” it reported.

Latest PCG data showed that the Chinese vessel was last spotted 86 nautical miles from Calayan Island, Cagayan, based on the automatic identification system.

In May this year, the PCG reported monitoring three Chinese research vessels within the EEZ. These are the Xiang Yang Hong 302, Tan Sou Er Hao, and the Zhong Shan Da Xue.

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. /das