The Philippine Coast Guard on Monday said it has deployed an aircraft to closely monitor and challenge a Chinese research vessel suspected of surveying off Batanes.

In a press briefing, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said the 114-meter research vessel identified as “Zhong Shan Da Xue,” with a tonnage of 2,300 tons, was located approximately 103.86 nautical miles from Itbayat, Batanes, as of 7 AM on 7 April.

The research vessel departed Guangdong province on 31 March and entered the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) up north around 9 PM on 2 April.

“Since then, it stayed within our own Exclusive Economic Zone which is seemingly conducting maritime scientific research because of its consistent patterns of navigation,” Tarriela said.

He pointed out that the vessel has been following an unusual route, shaped like an inverted "D," which is "not continuous and expeditious."

Tarriela lamented that the Chinese vessel has no permission to carry out marine research in the country’s EEZ.

“As far as we know, the Chinese government does not have any clearance or authority to conduct such marine scientific research within our own Exclusive Economic Zone up north,” he said.

Challenging the Chinese ship

Further, Tarriela mentioned that PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan has ordered the deployment of a Coast Guard aircraft to document the actions of Zhong Shan Da Xue.

“As we speak right now, the commandant of the PCG has already directed our Coast Guard aircraft to challenge this Chinese research vessel and for us also to document such unlawful activity of the Chinese research vessel in our own Exclusive Economic Zone up north,” he said.

Tarriela also noted that the PCG’s BRP continued to challenge the illegal presence of the Chinese research ship in the Philippine EEZ via repeated radio communications.

He emphasized that under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and Republic Act No. 12065, or the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, any foreign vessel intending to conduct scientific research within the Philippines’ maritime zones, including its EEZ and continental shelf, must first obtain prior consent from the Philippine government.

UNCLOS also underscores that the research being conducted in Philippine waters should be beneficial to the Filipino people.

Tarriela said a PCG vessel was also deployed to closely monitor the research vessel until it exits the Philippine waters.

“We need to make China realize that they still need to respect the sovereign rights of other countries and not allow them, and call them out to stop doing scientific research in somebody else's Exclusive Economic Zone,” he said.

Blatant disregard for safety

Meanwhile, Tarriela criticized a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship’s “blatant disregard for safety” after it “engaged in reckless and dangerous maneuvers.”

He described the CCG ship’s action as an “alarming incident” when it “attempted head-on collision” with the smaller PCG vessel conducting a maritime patrol approximately 92 to 96 nautical miles off Capones Island.

The incident raised “concerns about the China Coast Guard's adherence to the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (COLREGs), of which they are a signatory,” he said.

"It was only due to the seamanship skills and professionalism of the crew aboard BRP Cabra that the collision was narrowly avoided," the commodore added.

Despite the CCG’s “provocative actions,” Tarriela stressed the “PCG maintains a composed and professional approach, prioritizing safety and the prevention of any untoward incidents.”