China Coast Guard's "Monster Ship." Handout/Philippine Coast Guard

China Coast Guard's "Monster Ship."

Pia Gutierrez

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/1736145905460viber_image_2025-01-05_22-03-34-182.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="China Coast Guard&#x27;s &quot;Monster Ship.&quot; Handout/Philippine Coast Guard"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">China Coast Guard&#x27;s &quot;Monster Ship.&quot; <em>Handout/Philippine Coast Guard</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The National Security Council on Monday said the presence of China’s “Monster Ship” in the country’s exclusive economic zone was part of Beijings continuing intimidation, coercion, aggression, and deception in its territorial row with Manila over the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said authorities were continuously monitoring the movement of China Coast Guard Vessel 5901 and challenging its presence in Philippine waters.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/5/presence-of-china-monster-ship-in-zambales-a-show-of-force-analyst-1952">Presence of China monster ship in Zambales &#x27;a show of force&#x27;: analyst</a></div><p>“Hindi natin ito pinapabayaan lang, minamanmanan natin. In fact, we are shadowing it,” he said in a televised briefing.</p><p>“Nandyan pa rin hanggang ngayon ang BRP Cabra na syang nagbabantay at sinusundan ang 5901 sa anumang galaw nito, at meron din tayong ibang assets gaya ng eroplano mula Coast Guard at iba pang mga assets ng ating Northern Luzon Command, ng Area Task Force North ng National Task Force West Philippine Sea at hindi natin ito pinababayaan,” Malaya said.</p><p>“Tuloy-tuloy ang ating radio challenge, at sinisigurado natin na wala itong ginagawang masama sa ating Exclusive Economic Zone,” he added.</p><p>Malaya said the NSC assured fishermen in Zambales and Palawan that Chinese presence in the WPS should not intimidate them from fishing in Philippine waters.</p><p>“Ang mensahe namin sa kanila, ituloy ang pangingisda ninyo walang nagbago at hindi titigil ang pamahalaan na magbigay ng suporta sa inyo notwithstanding the presence of 5901 walang magiging epekto ito sa operasyon ng pamahalaan,” he said.</p><p>“Papaigtingin pa natin ang presensya ng ating BFAR at ng Coast Guard para suportahan ang ating mangingisda.”</p><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABSpbFODNbAWL989&amp;activation=click&amp;vip_mode=playing&amp;vip_position=bottom-right"></script><p>Meanwhile, the strategic location of Masbate may explain why an underwater drone was recently discovered operating near the coast of the province, Malaya said.</p><p>The official declined to confirm whether the drone was placed there by China, noting that authorities have yet to complete its investigation on the matter.</p><p>“Itong Masbate ay nasa bungad ng San Bernardino Strait. Itong San Bernardino Strait naman ay napakastrategic, napakaimportanteng daluyan ito ang access ng Pacific Ocean papasok sa ating archipelago. So there are speculations na that’s the purpose of an armed drone, para i-map out ang areang yon,” he said.</p><p>“But ang presumption kasi ng mga ekspertong ganito is they are presuming that this is Chinese. Medyo maaga pa para mailabas ng pamahalaan ang resulta ng forensic investigation. As of now hindi pa tapos ito, there is no definitive conclusion yet.”</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/2/navy-investigates-origin-purpose-of-underwater-drone-recovered-in-masbate-1347">Navy investigates origin, purpose of underwater drone recovered in Masbate</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/3/ph-coordinating-with-foreign-counterparts-to-determine-origin-purpose-of-underwater-drone-1545">PH coordinating with foreign counterparts to determine origin, purpose of underwater drone</a></div>

<p>The National Security Council on Monday said the presence of China’s “Monster Ship” in the country’s exclusive economic zone was part of Beijings continuing intimidation, coercion, aggression, and deception in its territorial row with Manila over the West Philippine Sea.</p>

The National Security Council on Monday said the presence of China’s “Monster Ship” in the country’s exclusive economic zone was part of Beijings continuing intimidation, coercion, aggression, and deception in its territorial row with Manila over the West Philippine Sea.

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Philippines monitoring, challenging China ‘monster’ ship off Luzon

Philippines monitoring, challenging China ‘monster’ ship off Luzon

Pia Gutierrez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 06, 2025 02:36 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 06, 2025 02:45 PM PHT

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