The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday deployed a vessel and an aircraft to challenge a Chinese research ship that it said had been conducting unauthorized marine scientific research inside the Philippine exclusive economic zone off Batanes.
The PCG said BRP Teresa Magbanua and an Islander aircraft were sent to the area where Chinese research vessel JIA HAI KE 7 had remained about 37 nautical miles northwest of Itbayat since September 28.
At around 7:55 a.m., BRP Teresa Magbanua approached the research vessel to within 100 yards and launched a rigid-hull inflatable boat to disrupt its activities and compel it to leave the area, according to the PCG.
The Coast Guard said the RHIB circled JIA HAI KE 7 several times while the research vessel maneuvered away. BRP Teresa Magbanua also issued repeated radio challenges.
During the operation, China Coast Guard vessel CCG-2503 arrived in the area and approached the Philippine vessel while issuing its own radio challenges, the PCG said.
BRP Teresa Magbanua then shadowed the Chinese coast guard vessel at a distance of about 1,000 yards while remaining near the research ship.
The PCG said the presence of the China Coast Guard raised questions over the activities of JIA HAI KE 7, which it described as privately owned.
It also expressed concern over data the vessel may have collected near undersea cable corridors in the Luzon Strait, although it did not provide independent evidence detailing the vessel’s research activities or findings.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan also ordered an Islander aircraft to conduct a maritime domain awareness flight over the area. The aircraft took off from Basco Airport and circled the vicinity several times.
As of 11 a.m., BRP Teresa Magbanua remained near JIA HAI KE 7 and continued monitoring and challenging the vessel.
The PCG said the Department of Foreign Affairs had confirmed that the Philippine government did not give consent for the vessel to conduct marine scientific research in the country’s EEZ.
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, marine scientific research in another state’s EEZ generally requires the consent of the coastal state.
The PCG said it would continue challenging the vessel until it leaves the area.
