China’s 'Monster Ship' scaring off Masinloc fishermen

Fishermen near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea are being threatened by the continued trespassing activities of the China Coast Guard’s largest vessel, 5901, also known as the "Monster Ship."

In a radio interview on Tuesday, New Masinloc Fishermen Association President Leonardo Cuaresma said residents are hesitant to conduct fishing activities in their traditional fishing grounds as other Chinese vessels have already entered within 15 nautical miles of the country’s territorial seas.

“Even those Chinese militia are joining the Chinese navy and Chinese coast guard in patrolling our waters,” Cuaresma said in Filipino.

Cuaresma also noted the presence of Chinese commercial fishing vessels in the area.

“Thank God, they’re not touching our fishermen as per their report. However, we are not sure about this — we might make mistakes that would endanger our fishermen,” he added.

He expressed concern that fishermen are afraid their boats might be sunk by adversaries in the WPS.

The CCG’s 165-meter vessel has not left the country’s maritime territory and continues its illegal patrols near Bajo de Masinloc as of press time.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has been confronting the Monster Ship and other Chinese vessels entering the country’s exclusive economic zone with persistent radio challenges.

PCG spokesperson for the WPS, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said the Monster Ship maintains an average distance of 60 to 70 nautical miles from the Philippine coastline.

“That’s obviously illegal. The mere fact that in their radio challenges, they are claiming that what they are doing is a maritime patrol because they claim they have jurisdiction over these waters,” Tarriela said.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is continuing to encourage fishermen to exercise their rights to fish in their traditional fishing grounds in the WPS.

Navy spokesperson for the WPS, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said the AFP remains committed to ensuring the protection and safety of Filipino fishermen in the disputed waters.

“The Philippine Navy regularly conducts maritime patrols in the Bajo de Masinloc while the Philippine Air Force regularly holds air surveillance flights,” Trinidad said.