The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it detected the presence of two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels near the coastal municipality of Luna in La Union province on Monday.

PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the ships were monitored at an approximate distance of 70 to 75 nautical miles off Luna, La Union.

Tarriela said the PCG deployed BRP Cabra and BRP Bagacay to the area to monitor the movements of the Chinese vessels with bow numbers 3301 and 3304.

These vessels were initially sighted about 34 nautical miles, or 63 kilometers, from shore on Sunday, 2 February, he added.

“That was the closest that we can say. But again, the difference of these two CCG vessels with that of the CCG monster ship is that their passage from 34 nautical miles was continuous. We detected that they got close like that, but they never stayed there for a long time,” Tarriela said.