Chinese vessel that blocked PCG ship in Scarborough moves away

Chinese Coast Guard vessel moving dangerously close to the PCG patrol ship. (Photo courtesy of PCG)

MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese vessel that blocked and almost collided with a Philippine Coast Gaurd (PCG) patrol ship near Scarborough Shoal moved further away from Zambales province on Monday morning.

PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela announced this in a press conference.

“This morning, as an update, the CCG vessel 3302 is monitored to move further away at a distance of 96 to 98 nautical miles off the coast of Palawig, Zambales as of 7 a.m.” the PCG official disclosed.

“I would like to once again emphasize that BRP Cabra is conducting an hourly radio challenge to the China Coast Guard vessel,” he added.

READ: Chinese vessel in near collision with PCG ship

Tarriela explained that PCG’s actions against China’s aggression aim to show the international community that the “Philippines is not allowing China to normalize this kind of illegal patrol” off the coast of Zambales.

On Sunday afternoon, Tarriela posted videos showing Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 3302’s harassment against a PCG patrol ship.

He disclosed that PCG’s 44-meter patrol vessel BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) was heading to the southwest part of Bajo de Masinloc when CCG vessel 3302 started shadowing the ship some 95 nautical miles west-northwest of Capones Island in Zambales.

Beijing asserts sovereignty in almost the entire SCS, including most of the West Philippine Sea.

Philippine Coast Guard Continues Vigilant Patrol Amidst China Coast Guard’s Dangerous Maneuver

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel, BRP Cabra, remains steadfast in its mission to challenge the illegal patrol conducted by the China Coast Guard vessel 3302. Despite continuous… pic.twitter.com/xiZcuweC4B

— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) April 6, 2025

In 2012, Manila and Beijing had a tense standoff over Panatag Shoal, with the former withdrawing its ships from the shoal, which led to the latter having effective control of its lagoon to date.

A year later, Manila lodged an arbitration case against Beijing after this standoff, which led to a historic 2016 arbitral award.

That effectively rejected the latter’s sweeping claims in the West Philippine Sea through its nine-dash line — now ten-dash-line after the inclusion of another line in the eastern section of Taiwan in 2023.