The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported issuing a radio warning on Saturday to a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship spotted approaching Philippine waters near Zambales.
According to the PCG, the CCG 3302—measuring 99 meters—was detected within 83 to 85 nautical miles off the coast of Palauig, inside the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The PCG challenged the vessel via radio, asserting that its presence violated several international agreements: the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the 2016 Arbitral Award, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). These agreements uphold the Philippines’ territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea, invalidating China’s expansive claims.
In its statement, the PCG reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty: “We are determined to prevent the normalization of unlawful Chinese patrols and will continue to monitor and report such activities.”
The CCG 3302 has a known history of aggressive encounters. It was one of nine Chinese vessels seen in Philippine waters earlier this year, and in December 2024, it fired a water cannon and rammed the PCG’s BRP Datu Pagbuaya near Scarborough Shoal—damaging the vessel and endangering Filipino fishermen.