PCG challenges presence of armed CCG ship off Batanes — Tarriela

A Philippine Coast Guard islander aircraft spots China Coast Guard ship with hull number 4304 off Sabtang island in Batanes on August 8, 2025. — Photo from the Philippine Coast Guard

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) challenged the presence of a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship off Batanes, Commodore Jay Tarriela, the agency’s spokesperson for West Philippine Sea affairs, said on Friday.

The CCG ship with hull number 4304 is one of the three Chinese coast guard ships forming what a maritime expert call “bracketing” in the island province.

Tarriela said the PCG deployed its islander aircraft, which departed in Manila at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, to monitor and challenge the presence of the CCG ship.

READ: 3 armed China Coast Guard ships seen ‘bracketing’ Batanes

“Upon locating the CCG-4304, the crew issued radio challenges, emphasizing that the vessel lacks legal authority to operate within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone,” Tarriela said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, the CCG vessel did not respond,” he said.

CCG-4304 was spotted on the western part of Batanes, approximately 75 nautical miles west off the coast of Sabtang island, as detected by Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection system.

On the other hand, two other ships with hull numbers 3301 and 3304 were detected to be on the eastern side of the province.

However, the PCG was not able to challenge these two other vessels.

“Consequently, adverse weather conditions and the distance to the other two CCG vessels (3304 and 3301) prevented the aircraft from reaching their locations,” Tarriela noted.

Tarriela said the PCG “is prepared to deploy additional resources should the CCG vessels continue their presence or approach closer the Batanes coastline.”

The CCG’s 4304 and 3304 are 112-meter Zhouyu class patrol ships armed with a 76 millimeter main gun, while CCG 3301 is a 98-meter Shucha II-class vessel carrying a 37mm main gun.

SeaLight director Ray Powell said the three ships’ positions formed a bracketing pattern, with vessels being placed on either side of the island.

Powell, who has been tracking Chinese vessels in South China Sea and nearby high seas, noted that he “almost never” sees CCG vessels off Batanes before.

“I think this is really significant,” Powell said. /das