PCG challenges presence of ‘highly militarized’ CCG ship off Pangasinan

China Coast Guard ship with bow number CCG-4203. —Photo from the Philippine Coast Guard

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) challenged the presence of a China Coast Guard ship off the coast of Pangasinan in the West Philippine Sea.

BRP Teresa Magbanua was deployed on Monday to issue a radio challenge against CCG ship with bow number 5303 after being spotted approximately 39 nautical miles off the coast of Pangasinan, according to Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea.

READ: China Coast Guard ships back in Scarborough after bad weather

“Upon arrival at the scene, the BRP Teresa Magbanua engaged CCG-5303 via radio communication, challenging its presence and asserting that the vessel lacked legal authority to operate within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines,” Tarriela said in a statement.

“The Chinese Coast Guard responded by claiming that the PCG had entered waters under China’s jurisdiction, asserting its sovereignty over Huangyan Island and its adjacent waters,” he added.

Last week, Tarriela said CCG-5303 was spotted off Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which is near Pangasinan province.

A “highly militarized coast guard ship”, CCG-5303 is 134 meters long, and was built on a navy frigate’s hull while carrying a 76mm gun, according to SeaLight Director Ray Powell.

“It epitomizes China’s militarization of maritime law enforcement—naval firepower under coast guard authority,” Powell, program head of Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, said on X (formerly Twitter).

Meanwhile, CCG-5303 was also later joined by another Chinese vessel CCG-4203, according to Tarriela.

Such presence of CCG is in line with Beijing’s assertion of sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, but the July 2016 arbitral award already invalidated this while ruling heavily in favor of Manila’s sovereign rights. /cb