The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported increased Chinese vessel activity near the Zambales coast on Tuesday as it replaced its deployed ship to continue monitoring the area.
PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Commodore Jay Tarriela, announced that the BRP Gabriela Silang was replaced by the BRP Suluan, a 44-meter multi-role response vessel.
“In a significant development early this morning, CCG-3304 was replaced by another Chinese vessel, bow number 3103,” Tarriela stated.
He noted that while CCG-3103 is smaller than its predecessor, it still measures 77.7 meters in length and 10.4 meters in width, making it significantly larger than the 44-meter BRP Suluan.
Monitoring and Radio Challenges
Despite challenging sea conditions with waves reaching 2-3 meters, BRP Suluan maintained its monitoring efforts and prevented CCG-3103 from advancing closer to the Zambales coastline.
The PCG aggressively radio-challenged the Chinese vessel, asserting that its presence violated several international laws, including:
- The Philippine Maritime Zones Act
- The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
- The 2016 Arbitral Award
Vessel Positions
As of 9 p.m. on Tuesday:
- CCG-3304 was approximately 105 nautical miles from Zambales and 28 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc.
- CCG-3103 patrolled 76 nautical miles off Pundaquit, Zambales, which the PCG deemed illegal.
“Monster Ship” Presence
Meanwhile, the CCG-5901, nicknamed the “monster ship,” moved farther from the Zambales coast but remained within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near Bajo de Masinloc.
“As of 9 p.m., the CCG-5901 is now 113 nautical miles from Zambales but remains within the EEZ, positioned 19 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc (BDM),” Tarriela reported.
Continuing Vigilance
The PCG remains vigilant as tensions persist in the West Philippine Sea. The agency continues to assert the Philippines’ sovereign rights and monitor any incursions within its maritime zones.