PCG challenges unauthorized Chinese vessel off Zambales coast

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday tracked and challenged the illegal presence of China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel CCG-4305 that was drifting at around 48 nautical miles west of the coastline of Pandaquit, Zambales.

In a statement, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said the vessel was initially found to be within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) through Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection (DVD) Program.

READ: PH aircraft challenges Chinese vessel off Cagayan

The incursion prompted PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan to order the deployment of both aerial and surface assets.

“This morning, the PCG Piper Navajo 302 took off from La Union Airport to conduct a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight over the area where the CCG vessel was detected,” Tarriela said.

The PCG aircraft visually confirmed the presence of CCG-4305 to be within the Philippine EEZ, at a distance of 50.1 nautical miles west of Pundaquit, Zambales.

“The PCG aircrew issued numerous radio challenges, which the Chinese vessel refused to acknowledge. The PCG Piper Navajo 302 also conducted multiple passes to document the unlawful incursion before returning to the airport,” he said.

PCG vessel BRP Cape San Agustin went to the location of the CCG ship and also conducted radio challenges throughout the day.

“Although the Chinese vessel briefly acknowledged the initial challenge in the morning, it subsequently went silent and refused to respond to subsequent challenges. Notably, CCG-4305 provided no lawful basis for its presence within the Philippines’ EEZ,” he said.

The PCG’s challenge to the unauthorized incursion of the Chinese ship complies with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s order to never allow the normalization of illegal patrols by the CCG within Philippine waters.

“These activities constitute a direct violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award,” he said.

On Monday, Tarriela dismissed China’s claim that Philippine monitoring activities are “publicity stunts” and emphasized that such actions are routine and legitimate to preserve the country’s sovereign rights.

He also reported illegal marine scientific research activities conducted by Chinese vessels in Cay 2 and Cay 3 inside the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island on Saturday. /jpv