Chinese warships, coast guard vessels spotted near Occidental Mindoro

MANILA, Philippines, July 14 ------ The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is monitoring the presence of two Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy warships and a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel operating within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Cabra Island in Occidental Mindoro.

In a statement issued, the PCG said patrol vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua encountered PLA Navy warship 793 and CCG vessel 4203 approximately 69.31 nautical miles from Cabra Island during a routine maritime patrol. Another PLA Navy vessel, identified as warship 164, later joined the group. “The PCG emphasizes to these vessels that their operations are taking place within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines,” the agency said.

The PCG issued several radio challenges to the Chinese warships throughout the day, seeking to determine their intent. The PLA Navy vessels did not respond, according to the Coast Guard. However, the CCG vessel replied and asserted China’s jurisdiction over the area. The PCG also reported observing helicopter landing drills on board warship 164, with activity continuing throughout the morning. “The PCG reminds the PLA Navy and the CCG to give due regard to the jurisdiction of the Philippines in its EEZ, answer the radio communications from the PCG, and desist from the conduct of unauthorized patrols or law enforcement-related activities in the Philippine EEZ,” the Coast Guard said.

As of 11 a.m., Saturday, Teresa Magbanua continued to monitor the movement of the three Chinese vessels. The incident comes as the Philippines marks the ninth anniversary of the July 12, 2016, arbitral ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which rejected China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea.

The tribunal upheld the Philippines’ maritime entitlements under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), ruling that China’s so-called nine-dash line had no legal basis. Despite the ruling, Beijing continues to assert claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, overlapping with areas claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

The PCG said its patrols and monitoring operations are conducted in accordance with domestic laws and international maritime frameworks, including UNCLOS, the 2016 arbitral award and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.

Source: philstar.com