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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PCG confronts 'intruding' Chinese coast guard ship off Zambales coast

PCG confronts 'intruding' Chinese coast guard ship off Zambales coast

Published May 19, 2026 03:49 pm

At A Glance

  • The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confronted a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship, CCG-4305, after it entered the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near Zambales on Tuesday, May 19.
  • The vessel was detected about 48–50 nautical miles west of Pandaquit, Zambales through Canada's Dark Vessel Detection Program.
  • The PCG deployed both aircraft and patrol vessels to monitor and challenge the Chinese ship.
  • A PCG aircraft conducted surveillance flights and repeatedly issued radio warnings but the Chinese vessel mostly ignored them and gave no legal justification for being in the area.
A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship with bow number "4305" is spotted about 48 nautical miles west of Pandaquit, Zambales on May 19, 2026 by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). (Photo: PCG)
A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship with bow number "4305" is spotted about 48 nautical miles west of Pandaquit, Zambales on May 19, 2026 by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). (Photo: PCG)
After driving away a Chinese research ship off the cays of Pag-asa Island over the weekend, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday, May 19, confronted a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship that entered the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coast of Zambales.
The PCG said the CCG ship with bow number “4305” was monitored drifting about 48 nautical miles west of Pandaquit, Zambales through Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection (DVD) Program.
PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan ordered the deployment of aerial and surface assets after authorities confirmed the vessel’s presence within the Philippines’ EEZ.
A PCG Piper Navajo 302 aircraft flew from La Union Airport to conduct a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight over the area. At around 8:40 a.m., the aircraft crew spotted CCG-4305 about 50.1 nautical miles west of Pandaquit.
The PCG crew repeatedly issued radio challenges to the Chinese vessel but the Chinese crew did not respond, according to PCG spokesperson for WPS Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela.
The PCG aircraft also made several passes over the area to document the “unlawful incursion” of the CCG ship before returning to base.
At sea, BRP Cape San Agustin (MRRV-4408) sailed to the area and challenged the Chinese vessel by radio throughout the day, Tarriela said.
The CCG-4305 briefly acknowledged the initial radio challenge in the morning but later went silent and ignored succeeding calls, he added.
“Notably, CCG-4305 provided no lawful basis for its presence within the Philippines’ EEZ,” the Tarriela mentioned.
History trail of China Coast Guard (CCG) ship
History trail of China Coast Guard (CCG) ship "4305" (Courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard)
The latest confrontation came days after the PCG drove away the Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 33 near Pag-asa Island on May 17.
Read: PCG aircraft challenges Chinese research ship near Pag-asa cays
The vessel was allegedly conducting unauthorized marine scientific research near Sandy Cay 2 and Sandy Cay 3 while escorted by Chinese coast guard ships CCG-5101 and CCG-5309.
During that operation, the PCG deployed Islander 4177 for an MDA flight after Chinese personnel were reportedly seen landing on the cays. The aircraft also monitored around 20 Chinese maritime militia vessels near Sandy Cay 3 and Sandy Cay 4, according to the PCG.
The PCG said it would “never allow the normalization of illegal patrols” by the CCG off the coast of Zambales, in compliance with the directive of President Marcos Jr. not to surrender even a square inch of Philippine territory to any foreign power.
It said the activities of CCG-4305 violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, and the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea.
“The PCG remains resolute in defending the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction through sustained MDA flights, vessel deployments, and lawful enforcement operations across the West Philippine Sea,” Gavan stressed.

Related Tags

Philippine Coast Guard China Coast Guard WPS Zambales
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