Chinese research vessel in Itbayat was closely monitored by a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Islander aircraft after it was spotted 78.21 nautical miles northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, at around 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 15.
According to PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan deployed PCG Islander 4177 to patrol the coastal waters of Batanes in response to the presence of the Chinese vessel “ZHONG SHAN DA XUE.”
PCG Islander crew attempted to initiate radio communication with the Chinese ship multiple times, but received no response.
The PCG aviators, in their repeated radio challenge, stressed that the vessel had no authority to conduct marine scientific research within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
They also underscored that the activities of the Chinese vessel constitute a clear violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.
This latest maritime incident highlights the ongoing tension in the West Philippine Sea and the Philippines’ intensified maritime domain awareness operations.