China’s Monster ship sailing around Phl waters ‘concerning’

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it is closely coordinating with the concerned agencies in monitoring the China Coast Guard’s largest vessel, also known as the Monster ship, sailing around Philippine waters.

This was assured by the Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, on Tuesday.

“The concern right now of the AFP focuses on all intrusions into our Exclusive Economic Zone, not only on Bajo de Masinloc. We also cover the West Philippine Sea, we cover the Northern Islands, we cover the Eastern Seaboard, and our Southern borders,” he said.

He added, “Any intrusion, even only one ship, is a concern of the AFP,” particularly when they sail around the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Trinidad said the AFP has constant communication with the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Maritime Police, and other government agencies to address the presence of foreign vessels within Philippine waters.

“Yes, it is concerning. Not only the monster ship, but even the other intrusions in our EEZ in the West Philippine Sea. People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), and the Maritime Militia, research vessels on the Eastern Seaboard, on the Northern Passage. We take this seriously,” he added.

‘Monster ship concerning’

Meanwhile, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin also said Malacañang views the presence of the Monster ship inside the country's exclusive economic zone with concern.

In a separate press briefing in Malacañang, Bersamin said the Monster ship's presence in the region is a “matter of projection” and that the Philippine forces continue to challenge the presence of CCG vessels within the country’s waters.

“We view it with concern. So far, we have been challenging the presence of that monster ship, our Coast Guard has always been very alert in following up on the presence of that monster ship, pasulpot-sulpot,” he said.

“In the end, because nothing confrontational happens, it could be a projection of an issue here, but I’m not going to say anything more because that's a matter of operations,” he added.

Bersamin also noted that the Philippines continues to file protests against China’s ongoing aggressions in the WPS, while the ministerial talks between Manila and Beijing address issues in the region.

“This is the precise issue that they address, the settlement of the dispute in the West Philippine Sea,” Bersamin said.

The Philippine Coast Guard earlier said the presence of the China Coast Guard’s “monster ship” inside the country's EEZ was a ploy to intimidate local fisherfolk in the area.

In a statement on Tuesday, PCG spokesperson for the WPS, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said the CCG vessel's “erratic movements” indicate it is not engaged in innocent passage “but rather asserts that it is conducting a law enforcement operation, claiming jurisdiction over these waters as belonging to the People's Republic of China.”

Tarriela said the PCG continues to challenge, diligently tailing and shadowing CCG-5901 to uphold Philippine sovereign rights.