China’s “monster” ship and a second China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel were making their way to Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal) as a third Chinese vessel was sent to the coast of Zambales on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it located the monster ship, CCG-5901, at 113 nautical miles away from Zambales, farther from its previous location from Zambales' coast but still within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines at a distance of 19 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc.
Meanwhile, CCG-3304 was spotted 105 nautical miles away from Zambales, approaching Bajo de Masinloc at a distance of 28 nautical miles.
A third Chinese vessel, CCG-3103, was deployed to the coast of Zambales, taking the place of CCG-3304. It was monitored to be “illegally” patrolling the coast of Zambales at a distance of 76 nautical miles from Pundaquit town, the PCG said.
In response, the PCG said BRP Suluan (MRRV-4406) was fielded to relieve BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) and prevent CCG-3103 from getting nearer the coast of Zambales.
CCG-3103 measures 77.7 meters in length and 10.4 meters, making it smaller than the 111-meter-long CCG-3304 but still way bigger than the 44-meter BRP Suluan.
“Despite challenging sea conditions with wave heights of two to three meters, BRP Suluan has maintained close monitoring of CCG-3103, effectively preventing the larger vessel from approaching the Zambales coastline,” PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea, Commo. Jay Tarriela said.
The apparent standoff between the Philippine and Chinese coast guard ships entered its 17th day on Tuesday.
Tarriela said the PCG continued to issue radio challenges to the Chinese ships, asserting that their “illegal presence violates the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award.”
“The Philippine Coast Guard remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the country's maritime interests and upholding international law without escalating tensions,” he noted.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea including features within the WPS such as Bajo de Masinloc, a coral reef formation located 124 nautical miles from Masinloc, Zambales, despite an arbitral ruling in 2016 which invalidated its dash-line claims.