PCG: 'Monster ship' closest deployment yet by China to PH coastline | ABS-CBN
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PCG: 'Monster ship' closest deployment yet by China to PH coastline
PCG: 'Monster ship' closest deployment yet by China to PH coastline
Published Jan 15, 2025 01:04 PM PHT
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Updated Jan 23, 2025 09:24 AM PHT
China Coast Guard's "monster ship" off the coast of Zambales, January 12, 2025. Handout/Philippine Coast Guard
China Coast Guard's "monster ship" off the coast of Zambales, January 12, 2025. Handout/Philippine Coast GuardMANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday said that China's "monster ship" deployed off Zambales in Luzon was so far Beijing's closest vessel yet to the Philippine coastline.
MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday said that China's "monster ship" deployed off Zambales in Luzon was so far Beijing's closest vessel yet to the Philippine coastline.
The PCG first detected the 12,000-ton China Coast Guard vessel some 54 nautical miles away from Capones Island on January 4 — the closest it sailed near the country's coastline and well within the nation's exclusive economic zone, Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG's spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, confirmed to ABS-CBN News in a message.
The PCG first detected the 12,000-ton China Coast Guard vessel some 54 nautical miles away from Capones Island on January 4 — the closest it sailed near the country's coastline and well within the nation's exclusive economic zone, Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG's spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, confirmed to ABS-CBN News in a message.
The Chinese ship has been "loitering" the area for around 11 days already and now moving at a "very slow pace" some 60-90 nautical miles away from the province as of Wednesday, Tarriela said in an interview on ANC.
The Chinese ship has been "loitering" the area for around 11 days already and now moving at a "very slow pace" some 60-90 nautical miles away from the province as of Wednesday, Tarriela said in an interview on ANC.
"This particular deployment is questionable because this is the first time that the China Coast Guard deployed that close to our exclusive economic zone... this has never happened before," he said.
"This particular deployment is questionable because this is the first time that the China Coast Guard deployed that close to our exclusive economic zone... this has never happened before," he said.
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Tarriela called the China ship's deployment "illegal," noting that they have been challenging its presence every day through radio communication.
Tarriela called the China ship's deployment "illegal," noting that they have been challenging its presence every day through radio communication.
"The Chinese Coast Guard does not have the legal authority to patrol within our own exclusive economic zone," he said, adding that China's maritime law enforcement operations in the Philippine waters were "illegitimate."
"The Chinese Coast Guard does not have the legal authority to patrol within our own exclusive economic zone," he said, adding that China's maritime law enforcement operations in the Philippine waters were "illegitimate."
The PCG immediately deployed the BRP Cabra and a caravan reconnaissance aircraft to intercept and monitor the unescorted Chinese ship when it detected its presence on Saturday.
The PCG immediately deployed the BRP Cabra and a caravan reconnaissance aircraft to intercept and monitor the unescorted Chinese ship when it detected its presence on Saturday.
Tarriela said BRP Gabriela Silang was monitoring the monster ship at a distance of 300-500 yards "to make sure that the Chinese government will have difficulty in maneuvering closer to Zambales."
Tarriela said BRP Gabriela Silang was monitoring the monster ship at a distance of 300-500 yards "to make sure that the Chinese government will have difficulty in maneuvering closer to Zambales."
The PCG official said that China wanted to "normalize" its deployment of China Coast Guard vessels in the area "to alter the status quo."
The PCG official said that China wanted to "normalize" its deployment of China Coast Guard vessels in the area "to alter the status quo."
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National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya earlier said China's deployment of its largest coast guard vessel inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone was alarming and intended to intimidate Filipino fishermen.
National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya earlier said China's deployment of its largest coast guard vessel inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone was alarming and intended to intimidate Filipino fishermen.
"It is clearly a provocative act and a clear attempt to intimidate our fishermen and deprive them of their legitimate livelihood," Malaya said.
"It is clearly a provocative act and a clear attempt to intimidate our fishermen and deprive them of their legitimate livelihood," Malaya said.
"We were surprised by the increase in aggression being shown by the PRC [People's Republic of China] in deploying the monster ship. The monster ship is not close to Bajo de Masinloc but it is getting closer to the Philippine coastline. That is alarming," he said.
"We were surprised by the increase in aggression being shown by the PRC [People's Republic of China] in deploying the monster ship. The monster ship is not close to Bajo de Masinloc but it is getting closer to the Philippine coastline. That is alarming," he said.
The Philippines has sent a fresh diplomatic protest to China over the presence of the monster ship off Zambales.
The Philippines has sent a fresh diplomatic protest to China over the presence of the monster ship off Zambales.
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