PCG: Chinese ship seen prowling off Zambales anew

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday reported the presence of a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel off the coast of Zambales, within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In a statement, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Commodore Jay Tarriela, said CCG vessel 3301 was illegally sailing 105 to 110 nautical miles from the Zambales coast.

Tarriela said the PCG's largest vessel, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, was asserting the Philippines' sovereign rights in response to the illegal presence of the Chinese vessel.

“The PCG has actively communicated with the China Coast Guard vessel via radio, clearly indicating that its presence constitutes a violation of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” said Tarriela.

He emphasized the PCG’s commitment to safeguarding the country’s maritime rights, ensuring the safety of Filipino fishermen, upholding international law, and helping to de-escalate tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

“Despite challenging sea conditions, with wave heights reaching two to four meters, the BRP Teresa Magbanua has remained steadfast in its mission for over a week,” he said.

China’s expansive claim over the entire South China Sea (SCS) overlaps with the Philippines' exclusive rights to the WPS.

Beijing’s nine-dash line—since expanded to 10—encompasses nearly the entire WPS. The 2016 arbitral ruling, under UNCLOS, declared that China has no legal basis to claim almost the entire SCS.

Both the Philippines and China are parties to UNCLOS. However, China does not recognize the ruling and continues to harass Philippine vessels conducting legal maritime operations.

Other claimants in the SCS include Taiwan, Vietnam, and Malaysia.