The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is monitoring a Chinese research vessel, Song Hang, transiting through Philippine archipelagic waters en route to the Celebes Sea. Facebook/PCG

MANILA — The Chinese fisheries research vessel that passed through Philippine archipelagic waters said it was en route to the Indian Ocean to conduct fishing activities.

This was the response of the Chinese vessel identified as Song Hang to radio challenges issued by the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Malapascua.

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“Last night, when BRP Malapascua was conducting maritime patrols off the coast of Mapun Island, we were able to do a radio challenge sa Chinese research vessel at a distance of 34.6 nautical miles northeast of Mapun Island,” Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, told reporters in a virtual interview on Thursday.

“Unlike yesterday, this CFRV responded to our questions like where it is heading. Ang sabi ng vessel sa radio is that it is proceeding to the Sibutu Passage at pupunta ng Indian Ocean,” he added.

“This morning, BRP Malapascua again conducted radio challenge on the CFRV… We once again asked the intention of the CFRV. It reiterated its response… ang sabi it is proceeding to the Indian Ocean. What is quite unusual sa response ng isang CFRV, sabi nila, they are going to the Indian Ocean to catch fish,” Tarriela further said.

On Thursday noon, the Chinese vessel was monitored 35.5 nautical miles off Mapun Island in Tawi-Tawi.

According to Tarriela, the 85-meter Song Hang is China’s first ocean-going research vessel launched in 2017.

Manned by 25 Chinese crew members, the ship departed from Shanghai on March 26.

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Tarriela said the vessel exercised its right of innocent passage, adding that its transit through archipelagic waters was “continuous and expeditious.”

“Pumasok sila ng Mindoro Strait, bumaba at diretso ng Sibutu Passage. That is basically our archipelagic sea lanes,” the PCG official explained. “As far as the movement of the CFRV is concerned, tuluy-tuloy naman at hindi huminto.”

“We have been closely monitoring and informing them na hindi sila authorized magconduct ng marine scientific research. Based on our monitoring, wala naman tayong namataan na nagbaba sila ng gamit whatsoever that we can say na nagkoconduct sila ng MSR,” Tarriela continued. “We haven’t monitored any illegal activities na masasabi natin na they are taking advantage of such right.”

Song Hang is expected to exit the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) via the Sibutu Passage within the day.

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