China Coast Guard vessel 5901, or the "monster ship," off the coast of Zambales on January 5, 2025. Handout/Philippine Coast Guard

MANILA (UPDATED) — China Coast Guard vessel 5901 or Beijing's "monster ship" is still "operating unlawfully at a distance of 60-70 nautical miles from Philippines territory", the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported Saturday, January 18.

For the past two weeks, the PCG has been closely monitoring the Chinese vessel's illegal activities, telling it to withdraw from Philippine waters.

However, despite persistent assertions that the monster ship has no legal authority to patrol in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) through radio communications from BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) in present and BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701 ) from the past days, the Chinese vessel's actions continue.

BRP Teresa Magbanua keeps eye on China Coast Guard ship off Zambales

"The PCG emphasizes that the Philippines' authority in these waters is in accordance with the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award," PCG said in a statement.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG's spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, earlier stated that this has been the closest deployment of China yet to Philippine EEZ and "had never happened before."

Since it's the biggest ship of China weighing 12,000 tons, it's meant to be "provocative" and "a clear attempt to intimidate Filipino fishermen", said National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya last Tuesday.

Aside from 5901, other smaller Chinese vessels were also spotted near Capones Island, Zambales over the past days.

Dr. Chester Cabalza, president of Manila-based think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, told ABS-CBN News that the monster ship is Beijing's "show of force". 

"Binabantayan nila 'yung Scarborough Shoal kasi 'yan 'yung nagmula yung problema natin when it comes sa legal case against China at dahil sa Bajo de Masinloc o Panatag shoal ay maraming naging kaibigan ang Pilipinas na gustong tumulong sa atin,"  he stressed.

 He also lauded PCG's efforts to ward off China's biggest ship. 

"Tama lang na ginagawa ng ating ahensya ng gobyerno yun lalong-lalo na sa maritime law enforcement. Trabaho talaga ng PCG na itaboy sila dahil nakapaloob sa international law and arbitral ruling na kapag may foreign aggressors," he Cabalza added.

In a statement, the PCG told China to respect the Philippines' sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone.

"Tracking data for the entire day has shown that the movements of the China Coast Guard vessel are inconsistent with the principles established under UNCLOS," the statement read.

"Freedom of navigation requires continuous and expeditious passage, and it is essential to note that this freedom does not permit illegal patrols by foreign vessels within the EEZ of another state," it added.

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