“The Monster”, a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship deemed the largest coast guard vessel in the world, was spotted off the coast of Zambales on Saturday, Jan. 4, triggering concerns anew of potential violation of international law and the sovereignty of the Philippines.
The 12,000-ton, 165-meter intimidator was detected at 54 nautical miles off the coast of Capones Island using the dark vessel detection (DVD) system acquired from Canada, according to Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS).
PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan ordered the deployment of multi-role response vessel BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409), a helicopter, and patrol aircraft PCG Caravan to verify the location of the vessel, also known as CCG-5901.
The position of the vessel was confirmed by the PCG around 5 p.m.
“The PCG vessel and aircraft continuously challenged the presence of the Chinese Coast Guard, emphasizing that it was operating within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in accordance with the Philippine Maritime Zones Law and UNCLOS,” Tarriela said.
In a video provided by Tarriela to the media, it showed a crew of BRP Cabra issuing a radio challenge to "The Monster".
"China Coast Guard CCG-5901, this is BRP Cabra, MRRV-4409. We are reminding you that you are within 72.6 nautical miles west by the south of Silanguin, Zambales, inside the Philippine exclusive economic zone. Please leave this area immediately! Over," a female crew of BRP Cabra was heard saying over the radio.
By 8 p.m., the Chinese vessel appeared to have moving away as it headed west, 85 nautical miles away from Zambales while the BRP Cabra continued to monitor it.
Maritime security analyst Ray Powell, who first posted about the location of the Monster, said the Chinese vessel appeared to be conducting an “intrusive patrol” in Scarborough Shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal.
“’The Monster’, China Coast Guard 5901, has brought its intrusive patrol even further east from Scarborough Shoal. It is now asserting China's claim of jurisdiction just 50 nautical miles from the Philippines' main island of Luzon,” said Powell, director of SeaLight program of Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation (GKC), while posting a satellite image of the ship’s location on his X account.
Bajo de Masinloc is located at 220 km west of Masinloc, Zambales within the EEZ of the Philippines but China took control of the resource-rich shoal by force following a tense standoff in 2012.
Powell previously said that the Monster was also monitored in Bajo de Masinloc on New Year’s Day, January 1, along with three other CCG ships and at least seven maritime militia.
Despite this, Tarriela stressed that the PCG “remains committed to closely monitoring this Chinese Coast Guard vessel to ensure that Filipino fishermen can operate safely and without harassment within our Exclusive Economic Zone.”