China Coast Guard's "monster ship" off the coast of Zambales, January 12, 2025. Handout/Philippine Coast Guard

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17367493376521736702499494011225_China Coast Guard.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">China Coast Guard&#x27;s &quot;monster ship&quot; off the coast of Zambales, January 12, 2025. Handout/Philippine Coast Guard</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns (POMC) on Monday condemned the &quot;continued illegal presence and activities&quot; of Chinese forces within the Philippines&#x27; territorial sea and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), calling it a violation of local and international laws.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/31/marcos-jr-reorganizes-maritime-security-agencies-1140">Marcos Jr. reorganizes maritime security agencies ‘to confront serious challenges’</a></div><p>POMC serves as the secretariat of the National Maritime Council (NMC) following a reorganization last year. NMC is the “central body in charge of formulating policies and strategies to ensure a unified, coordinated and effective governance framework for the country’s maritime security and domain awareness.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/12/pcg-continues-to-monitor-chinas-monster-ship-amid-rough-seas-2150">PCG continues to monitor China&#x27;s &#x27;monster ship&#x27; amid rough seas</a></div><p>In a statement on Monday, POMC called out the China Coast Guard (CCG) over the &quot;illegal presence and operations&quot; of its 2 vessels around the waters of Bajo de Masinloc and about 70 to 90 nautical miles from the coastlines of the province of Zambales.</p><p>It also condemned the &quot;provocative move&quot; of the Chinese government after it deployed a People&#x27;s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) helicopter that hovered above a PCG vessel.</p><p>&quot;These actions are clear violations of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and international law, particularly the UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling that affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its maritime zones, especially in the West Philippine Sea,&quot; the office said.</p><p>&quot;The escalatory actions of these Chinese vessels and aircraft clearly disregard Philippine and international laws,&quot; it added.</p><p>POMC said the Philippines has filed an appropriate diplomatic protest to counter China’s recent &quot;illegal actions.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/11/ph-will-encourage-peace-comply-with-int-l-law-faithfully-marcos-jr-2025">PH will &#x27;encourage peace while ensuring int&#x27;l law is faithfully complied&#x27;: Marcos Jr. tells diplomats in New Year reception</a></div><p>On Sunday, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said the Philippines would continue to &quot;promote peace&quot; while &quot;ensuring that international law is faithfully complied&quot;, days after the Chinese ships were spotted off the coast of Zambales.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3VvL4WthskY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns said the Philippines has filed appropriate diplomatic protest to counter China’s recent "illegal actions."</p>

The Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns said the Philippines has filed appropriate diplomatic protest to counter China’s recent "illegal actions."

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Palace maritime office calls out China's 'escalatory actions' in West Philippine Sea

Palace maritime office calls out China's 'escalatory actions' in West Philippine Sea

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 13, 2025 02:51 PM PHT

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China

Beijing

West Philippine Sea

CCG

Unclos

WPS

South China Sea

Bajo de Masinloc

international law

Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns

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