Chinese Survey Vessel Operated in PH EEZ for 25 Days Without Permit: PCG

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday said a Chinese survey vessel has been operating inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for 25 days without a permit. PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the 76-meter Chinese survey vessel Haiyang Dizhi Shiahao has been operating inside the Philippines’ EEZ for 25 days. "Three weeks of it inside the 12-nautical mile territorial sea of Bajo de Masinloc,” he added. According to Tarriela, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that no Philippine permit had been issued for the vessel's marine scientific research activities. “It is illegal," Tarriela said. Haiyang Dizhi Shihao entered the area while the Philippines was being affected by tropical cyclones and the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat, according to Tarriela. “China moved its survey vessel in at precisely the moment our vessels were least able to intercept it,” Tarriel said. The PCG official said that in 2023, the vessel reportedly cored 302.07 meters below the seafloor. “She is not an ordinary research ship. Operated by the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey under China's Ministry of Natural Resources, she is drilling-capable,” he said. Tarriela said the Chinese vessel also spent seven weeks surveying inside Indonesia's EEZ in the North Natuna Sea in 2021. According to Tarriela, the vessel was escorted by the China Coast Guard (CCG) during that operation and temporarily broke off its activities to resupply before returning to the area. The vessel later withdrew from the North Natuna Sea days before the ASEAN Summit, he added. "She switches off her AIS from time to time. It no longer helps her," Tarriela said. "Thanks to Canada's Dark Vessel Detection program, we continue to track this illegal survey vessel whether she is transmitting or not," he added. GMA News Online has sought comment from the Chinese Embassy in Manila about matter but it has yet to provide a statement as of posting time. — RSJ, GMA News