The Philippine government has urged China to withdraw its China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901, also called the “monster ship,” from Philippine waters.
“The Philippine government is alarmed by the presence of the monster ship,” said Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson for the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), during a press briefing.
Diplomatic Action
Malaya confirmed that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has issued a diplomatic protest against the presence of the vessel, describing it as “illegal and unacceptable.”
“We have made a clear request and demand with the Chinese government to withdraw their ship. We will utilize all diplomatic mechanisms and see how they respond,” Malaya said.
Coast Guard Efforts
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said the country’s largest vessels, BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Gabriela Silang, have been deployed to push the monster ship away from the Zambales coast.
As of Tuesday morning, the vessel was located 77 miles west of Capones Island. The PCG first detected the Chinese ship near Capones Island on January 4.
Technical Setback Resolved
The BRP Teresa Magbanua briefly left its post due to a minor technical issue but quickly resumed its mission. “It was a very minor derangement. The vessel is now back in action, blocking the China Coast Guard 5901,” Tarriela explained.
South China Sea Dispute
The incident comes amidst ongoing tensions over the South China Sea, a vital trade route claimed by multiple nations, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, stating that China’s claims to the South China Sea had “no legal basis.” However, China has refused to recognize the ruling.