Close watch over Chinese Coast Guard vessel

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Cabra is vigilantly monitoring and strategically maneuvering against the China Coast Guard vessel 3103 to prevent it from sailing closer to the Zambales coastline. 

Citing the latest data, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said the Chinese ship maintains an illegal presence within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

“Through the seamanship skills of the PCG personnel aboard, CCG-3103 has been successfully pushed further away and is now located approximately 80 to 90 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales,” Tarriela said. 

PCG crew consistently conducts hourly radio challenges “to remind the CCG crew of China’s blatant violations of international law,” he noted. 

Tarriela said BRP Cabra continues to drive away Chinese ships sailing within the country’s territorial waters.

“The Philippine Coast Guard remains committed to safeguarding the nation’s maritime rights and ensuring the enforcement of international maritime laws while avoiding any escalation of tensions,” he added. 

The BRP Cabra replaced BRP Suluan in closely monitoring the illegal presence of Chinese ships near the Zambales coastline. 

China has deployed CCG-3103 to replace the CCG’s largest vessel also known as “The Monster Ship” which has been illegally entering the Philippine waters. 

The CCG’s 165-meter “monster” vessel refused to leave the country’s maritime territory and continued its illegal patrolling near the Bajo de Masinloc.

It maintained an average distance of 60 to 70 nautical miles from the Philippine coastline.