China Coast Guard ship waits outside Manila Bay; research vessel at Bajo de Masinloc

August 16 ------ Chinese vessels were spotted off Luzon and appeared poised to intercept Philippine ships heading to Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal according to a maritime expert. "China seems determined to intercept and escort any Philippine ship moving in Scarborough Shoal's general direction," former United States Air Force official and ex-Defense Attaché Ray Powell said on X (formerly Twitter).

According to him, China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5303 was escorting Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship BRP Datu Matanam Taradapit on its way back to the Sual Fish Port in Pangasinan. "The Philippines' BFAR ship BRP Datu Matanam Taradapit is on its way back to Sual Fish Port in Pangasinan after checking in on Reed Bank, Iroquois Reef, and the PH bases at Lawak and Patag Islands," Powell said. "It has picked up a Chinese 'escort' (China Coast Guard 5303) as it passed Scarborough to make sure it goes home and doesn't decide to visit again," he added.

Powell also reported that another Chinese vessel CCG 3306 was spotted outside Manila Bay allegedly waiting for the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) ship BRP Cape San Agustin to come out. "A second Chinese escort has been assigned to the PCG's BRP Cape San Agustin. CCG 3306 waits just outside Manila Bay for it to emerge," the maritime expert said.

Powell also noted the "surprise and unusual" deployment of Chinese research ship Xiang Yang Hong 10 in Bajo de Masinloc. "It left Fiery Cross Reef on 12 August (the day after the collision) and just arrived one kilometer south of Scarborough this morning," Powell said. "Its purpose there is unknown, but its capabilities include deep-sea surveying, resource exploration and deploying autonomous underwater vehicles," he added.

Powell said the number of Chinese vessels in Bajo de Masinloc is fewer now, following a temporary increase on August 5 with at least eight CCG ships and 14 Chinese maritime militia vessels. At present, three CCG ships and eight Chinese maritime militia vessels are in the area, he said. Most of them are returning to China but two of the militia vessels appear headed to Spratly Islands. "This suggests Beijing had intelligence that the Philippines was planning Monday's 'Kadiwa' operation and augmented its force in anticipation," he said.

GMA News Online has sought comment from the PCG about the reported presence of Chinese ships, but it has yet to provide a statement as of posting time.

Source: gmanetwork.com