The Manila Times
THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it challenged what it described as illegal Chinese marine scientific research (MSR) activities and the continued swarming of Chinese maritime militia vessels in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) during a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight on Wednesday. In a statement issued on Thursday, the PCG said its Islander 4177 aircraft monitored the Chinese oceanographic research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 33 about 7.34 nautical miles west of Rozul Reef, where it was seen deploying a service boat toward the reef. The PCG said the activity confirmed “ongoing unauthorized MSR operations” within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Also monitored in the area were Chinese Coast Guard vessel CCGV 5309 loitering west of Rozul Reef and 13 Chinese Maritime Militia vessels anchored nearby. Citing data from Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection system, the PCG said Xiang Yang Hong 33 departed China on April 15 and had since conducted survey operations across several maritime features within the Philippine EEZ. According to the PCG, the vessel operated near Ayungin Shoal from April 20 to 22 with support vessels Yue Xia Yu Zhi 20027 and 20026. It later moved to Escoda Shoal from April 22 to 28 before conducting activities near Arellano Reef and Bulig Shoal from April 28 to May 1. The PCG added that the vessel was also monitored inside Panganiban Reef from May 1 to 3 and near Quirino Atoll and Rozul Reef from May 3 to 6. Since May 6, it was reportedly tracked through the Automatic Identification System while moving from Jacinto Reef toward Diego Silang Reef. During the same flight, the PCG aircraft also spotted 28 Chinese Maritime Militia vessels anchored near Cay 1 and Cay 2 close to Pag-asa Island. One Chinese Coast Guard vessel, CCG 5101, was observed about two nautical miles west of Pag-asa Island. The PCG said the activities violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), which requires foreign states to secure the consent of a coastal state before conducting marine scientific research within its EEZ. “The Philippines has not granted such consent to the PRC for any MSR activities in these waters,” the agency said. PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said the agency would continue conducting lawful maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea “to challenge any illegal activities that undermine our sovereignty and sovereign rights.”
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