MANILA - Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cabra has continued to monitor a Chinese coast guard ship despite challenging conditions off the coast of Zambales.

In a statement Saturday, the PCG said BRP Cabra is shadowing China Coast Guard vessel 3105 amid "adverse sea conditions with wave heights exceeding 3-5 meters."

"The BRP Cabra has effectively kept the larger vessel at a distance of more than 95 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales, preventing its approach to the coastline," the PCG said.

China's vessel 3105 measures over 130 meters in length, much bigger than the 44-meter BRP Cabra.

"PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan has made it clear that the deployment of PCG vessels aims to persistently prevent China from altering the status quo and normalizing its unlawful presence within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone," the PCG said.

 "Despite the challenges posed by smaller vessels and inclement weather, the dedicated men and women of BRP Cabra stand resolute in their mission to safeguard the nation's waters and ensure the security of the Filipino fishermen."

PCG: China Coast Guard vessels’ deployment off Pangasinan closest yet to Philippine coastline

NO LEGAL BASIS 

Beijing claims most of the South China Sea despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis, and its coast guard has clashed repeatedly with that of the Philippines, sparking fears of an armed conflict.

In December, the Philippines said the Chinese coast guard used water cannon and "sideswiped" a government fisheries department vessel.

Manila released a video appearing to show a Chinese coast guard ship directing a torrent of water at the BRP Datu Pagbuaya.

Other footage apparently taken from the Philippine ship showed its crew shouting "Collision! Collision!" as the much larger Chinese vessel nears its right-hand side before crashing into it.

Manila and treaty ally Washington have deepened their defense cooperation since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in 2022 and began pushing back against China's claims to the South China Sea.

The Philippines said in December it hoped to acquire the US Typhon missile system as part of a push to secure its maritime interests.

The mid-range missile system, deployed in 2024 for annual joint military exercises, has a range of 480 kilometres (300 miles), although a longer-range version is in development.

China has warned that acquiring the system risks triggering an "arms race". - with reports from Agence France-Presse