China vessel ‘dangerously’ blocks Philippines patrol ship

MANILA, Philippines, April 16 ------ A China Coast Guard ship made a dangerous maneuver to block a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel on patrol off Zambales on Monday. In a report, the PCG said the incident occurred 132.97 nautical miles west-southwest of Capon Grande, Zambales or about 36.35 nautical miles south of Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag shoal in the West Philippine Sea. 

The Chinese vessel with bow number 21612 increased its speed and crossed the port side of the smaller BRP Cabra, blocking its navigation route, according to the PCG. The maneuver was a violation of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, the PCG said. 

Cabra, commanded by Lt. Cmdr. Hanna Yanez, continued its patrol within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan said the patrols were in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2016 arbitral award and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act. The PCG said its patrols aim to assert Philippine jurisdiction and expose the aggressive behavior of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea. 

Also yesterday, PCG spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said the Coast Guard deployed an Islander aircraft to monitor a Chinese research vessel spotted northeast of Batanes. The aircraft detected the Chinese vessel Zhong Shan Da Xue around 8 a.m. approximately 78 nautical miles northeast of Itbayat, Batanes. The PCG aircraft attempted to establish radio communication with the vessel multiple times but received no response. Tarriela said the PCG emphasized in its radio challenge that the Chinese ship’s activity was a violation of UNCLOS and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act. 

Source: philstar.com