January 7, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino fishermen should continue their activities in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as Philippine naval and air assets are keeping a close watch on the China Coast Guard’s “monster ship,” which was sighted near Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro yesterday.
National Security Council assistant director general Jonathan Malaya issued the call at a briefing yesterday after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported spotting China’s “monster ship,” said to be the world’s biggest coast guard vessel, moving from the northern part of Zambales toward Lubang Island.
“Based on laws, it’s Philippine waters and within our exclusive economic zone and therefore (Filipinos) can fish there anytime. Our message to them is they should continue their fishing activities. Nothing has changed even if there’s a (foreign) ship there,” Malaya said at the briefing.
“We have all our assets pointed at this monster ship. At the moment, if it does something bad or in the sense of some provocative action, it will have to deal with appropriate response from the government,” he said.
The PCG was able to detect the 165-meter “monster ship” using Canada’s dark vessel detection system.
“We’re continuously doing radio challenge and we’re making sure the ship doesn’t create trouble inside our EEZ,” the NSC official said.
He said China’s deployment of large vessels was meant to scare away Filipino fishermen. “In response, we’re stepping up the presence of vessels from BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) and the PCG in the area to support our fishermen,” he said.
Yesterday, PCG spokesman for West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela reported the presence of the “monster ship” near Occidental Mindoro.
“This morning, it is 80 nautical miles away from Lubang Island, Occidental Mindoro,” Tarriela said over radio dzBB.
There was no report of harassment of Filipino fishermen in the area, he said. The 165-meter CCG ship was first spotted 54 nautical miles from Capones Island, Zambales, which is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile EEZ, on Jan. 4.
In response, the PCG deployed BRP Cabra, a helicopter and a PCG Caravan aircraft to confirm the sighting and assert the Philippines’ territorial rights.
The appearance of the CCG’s “monster ship” and other Chinese vessels closer to the Zambales coastline, especially near Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, was an alarming development, according to Tarriela.
He said their presence “appears to aim at legitimizing their activities near Bajo de Masinloc and discouraging Filipino fishermen from operating in the area.”
The PCG also confirmed the discovery of a Chinese underwater drone off the coast of Masbate, marking the first instance of such a find on the eastern seaboard.
He also said the PCG is determined to sustain its effort at challenging the presence of the “monster ship” in Philippine waters.
In a video shared by Tarriela with the media, a man was heard on the radio introducing himself as someone from CCG patrol ship with bow number 5901.
The voice from the radio said the ship was performing “law enforcement duties” in the “jurisdiction waters of China.” A voice could also be heard saying the “South China Sea arbitration is illegal and invalid.”
It also said China would “firmly uphold its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.”
While the rest of the audio could not be heard clearly, a voice supposedly of a CCG officer also said China would “adhere in managing maritime disputes through dialog and cooperation,” in line with “safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea” to “maintain mutual trust and cooperation between our countries.”
A female PCG officer – called “Angel of the Sea” – on board the Cabra, responded to the CCG’s challenge and ordered the “monster ship” to “depart immediately and notify us of your intentions.”
The female officer also warned the CCG that it does not “possess any legal authority to patrol within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone,” invoking Republic Act 12064 or the Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral award.
Tarriela also shared a video of the CCG 5901 taken from a light Philippine aircraft.
“This aircraft will document any potential incidents, including intentional ramming by the CCG vessel, and ensure that immediate rescue operations can be initiated if needed,” Tarriela said. — Daphne Galvez, Ghio Ong
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