Don't look away now. Chinese ships have been loitering the coast of Zambales for one month already.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it further pushed away Chinese ships from Zambales' coast as it marked the 30th day of China Coast Guard’s (CCG) “illegal presence” in the country’s waters on Sunday, Feb. 2.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson, said BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) has prevented China’s “monster” ship, CCG-5901, from getting closer to the coast of Zambales, pushing the 165-meter-long Sino ship from 54 nautical miles to 117 nautical miles.
“Currently, the BRP Teresa Magbanua remains steadfast in its patriotic duty, actively challenging the presence of China Coast Guard 5901,” Tarriela said. “The PCG is committed to preventing the normalization of the People's Republic of China's (PRC) illegal deployment of maritime forces in the region.”
China’s monster ship, according to Tarriela, has expressed intentions to “promote peace and stability through mutual trust and cooperation over the radio.”
However, the official said he sees the actions of the China Coast Guard “starkly contradict” CCG-5901’s assertions, “revealing a hidden agenda that jeopardizes efforts toward a peaceful resolution.”
CCG ships have been staying off the coast of Zambales since Jan. 4. The PCG also monitored the presence of Chinese vessels off Pangasinan’s coast.
Tarriela believes China intends to “normalize” its presence in these areas, which they claim as part of their internal waters based on the 10-dash-line, a U-shaped line segment used by China to justify their claims in the South China Sea, citing historical records.
A 2016 arbitral ruling has already invalidated China’s dash-line claims in the South China Sea.
“The unlawful presence of the Chinese vessel and its refusal to recognize the arbitral award illustrate the PRC's blatant disregard for international law and the established rules-based order,” Tarriela said.