US vessels operated near Philippine waters

July 16 ------ SEVERAL United States vessels operated near Philippine waters in recent months without prior clearance and allegedly carried out intelligence-gathering missions, according to a reliable source.

The allegations center on the movements of specialized US civilian and naval support vessels tracked in waters near Batanes, Ilocos Norte, and Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal). The source said the US offshore support vessel MV Carolyn Chouest was detected about 25 nautical miles southeast of Basco, Batanes, on July 7.

The vessel is a highly modified offshore support and maritime staging ship capable of supporting US special operations forces. A review of publicly available Automatic Identification System (AIS) data and international vessel-tracking records confirms that the vessel transmitted signals showing its presence east of Batanes during the period cited. However, the tracking data do not establish whether the vessel entered Philippine territorial waters, conducted military operations, or violated Philippine or international law.

The source also identified the ocean surveillance ships USNS Effective (T-AGOS-21) and USNS Able (T-AGOS-20), saying they operated near Burgos, Ilocos Norte, on Jan. 16 and near Scarborough Shoal on Dec. 21, 2025, respectively. He alleged the vessels were conducting anti-submarine warfare support missions using the US Navy’s Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (Surtass) and Low Frequency Active sonar to collect underwater acoustic and oceanographic data.

The source further claimed US vessels deployed buoys, underwater gliders, and other unmanned systems to gather seabed mapping, hydrographic and acoustic information, activities he said threatened Philippines’ national security and harmed the marine environment. The US Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Philippine defense and maritime authorities have likewise not reported any investigation or diplomatic protest related to the vessels.

Source: manilatimes.net