Philippines challenges presence of china's 'monster ship' in west philippine sea

Philippines challenges presence of china’s ‘monster ship’ in west philippine sea

The Philippine government has expressed deep concern over the presence of the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) so-called “monster ship” near Panatag Shoal, which lies within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin confirmed that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) continues to challenge the massive vessel’s illegal presence.

“This ship poses an undeniable threat to our sovereignty,” Bersamin stated, adding that the Philippines has been filing diplomatic protests against every instance of unauthorized entry by Chinese vessels into the West Philippine Sea.

The CCG-5901, a 12,000-ton vessel larger than U.S. Navy destroyers, is reportedly armed with anti-aircraft guns and has substantial fuel storage capacity. It was first detected near Capones Island in Zambales on January 4 using the PCG’s advanced monitoring systems.

According to PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela, the CCG-5901’s movements were “erratic and inconsistent with innocent passage.” He noted that the vessel seemed intent on asserting China’s claimed jurisdiction over waters that are legally part of the Philippines.

Despite the challenges, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan assured the public that the agency remains steadfast in safeguarding the country’s maritime domain. The PCG’s BRP Cabra actively shadowed the “monster ship” as it moved away from Capones Island.

Meanwhile, Philippine Navy spokesman Roy Trinidad emphasized that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) remains undeterred in its maritime patrols.

“We are addressing all intrusions, from the West Philippine Sea to the eastern seaboard and southern borders,” said Trinidad.

When asked about potential assistance from allies such as the United States and Japan, Trinidad mentioned that the Philippines maintains an information-sharing agreement with its treaty allies and partner nations to counter maritime threats.

“Our focus is not only on this ‘monster ship’ but also on the presence of maritime militias, research vessels, and other Chinese ships,” he added.

Despite these challenges, Bersamin affirmed that the Philippines remains resolute in asserting its sovereign rights over its EEZ.

“Every step we take demonstrates our unwavering commitment to defending our sovereignty,” he said.