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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Napadaan lang': No law violated in Chinese research vessels' presence in Philippine Rise, says Navy spokesman

'Napadaan lang': No law violated in Chinese research vessels' presence in Philippine Rise, says Navy spokesman

Published Mar 4, 2024 05:43 am

No law was violated when the two research vessels from China sailed near the Philippine Rise in the eastern seaboard of Luzon last week, a spokesperson for the Philippine Navy (PN) said on Monday, March 4.

Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, PN spokesperson for West Philippine Sea, said Chinese research vessels “Haiyang Dizhi Liuhao” and “Haiyang Dizhi Shihao” need not to ask permission from the Philippine government when they passed through the Philippine Rise inside the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines as it is considered part of freedom of navigation.

"They have the freedom of navigation when it comes to the EEZ of coastal states so they are allowed to pass through," Trinidad said in a radio interview over dzBB.

"Napadaan lang ito sa ating EEZ (They only passed through our EEZ). Their general direction was southeast of Pacific Ocean. Walang ginawang violation (No violation was committed)," he added.

Freedom of navigation operations (FONOPS) is a principle that allows the unhampered transit of any vessel into another coastal territory aside from exceptions provided for international law.

As this developed, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) deployed offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV 8301) to the Philippine Rise and Batanes to conduct maritime patrol operations following the reported monitoring of two Chinese research vessels in Philippine waters.

Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, PCG Commandant, directed the crew of BRP Gabriela Silang to perform a two-week maritime domain awareness (MDA) patrol there beginning on March 4, boost the coast guard's presence in Northern Luzon, and monitor the local fishermen to ensure they would be able to conduct their livelihood.

"We will also check the reported Chinese research vessels in Benham Rise," PCG spokesperson rear Adm. Armando Balilo noted.

Aside from the offshore patrol vessel, the Coast Guard Aviation Force put on standby its air assets for possible augmentation in performing aerial surveillance.

Last Friday, March 1, American maritime security analyst Ray Powell posted satellite images on X (formerly Twitter) of Chinese research vessels he identified as “Haiyang Dizhi Liuhao” and “Haiyang Dizhi Shihao” while they were sailing across east southeast of Luzon Strait.

The two vessels, according to the retired US Air Force officer, left port at Longxue Island in Guangzhou on February 26 and were spotted "loitering" in the northeast corner of the Philippine Rise, inside the Philippines' 200-nautical mile EEZ.

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