Diplomatic protest, monitoring await MSR ships without clearance

This, according to National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. when asked on what will be the government’s response to unauthorized foreign maritime activities. (File Photo Screengrab from Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines)/Facebook)

MANILA – Countries whose vessels are found conducting marine scientific research (MSR) activities in Philippine waters without the necessary clearances will be a subject of diplomatic protests.

This, according to National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. when asked on what will be the government’s response to unauthorized foreign maritime activities.

“There will be a protest filed immediately but if they are just passing through, then there will be none,” he said during a chance interview at the Asian Theater, 4th Floor, PIA Building, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City on June 15.

He added that there are two pending MSR requests awaiting diplomatic approval.

“We are now talking about that but the area involved is not that big, it’s just a dot in the ocean,” Esperon added.

He did not, however, identify the requesting parties or countries.

Reports said the last MSR application was granted by the Department of Foreign Affairs in December 2017 for China that involves research activities in North Eastern Luzon and Mindanao.

The Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy (IOCAS)  deployed three sets of deep-sea moorings in North Eastern Luzon in January 2018.

With the batteries of the moorings lasting for only two years, a retrieval operation by MSR vessel Ke Xue San Hao was conducted for the three deep-sea moorings on May 22-24.

The deep-sea moorings were named “QB1”, “QB2” and “QB3”.

Retrieval activities took place after two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel from its Marine Environmental Protection Command (MEPCOM) boarded the Chinese vessel on May 21 for a briefing on the proceedings.

The PCG’s BRP Malapascua monitored the retrieval activity some 3.5 kilometers away from Ke Xue San Hao.

Meanwhile, PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said the National Security Council and DFA must be informed in the event foreign vessels are spotted doing MSR activities.

“Should there be a foreign vessel (detected) and there be national security implications, NSC and DFA must be informed,” he added in a message to the Philippine News Agency on June 13.

Balilo said this is essential as these agencies are to determine the possible security issues involved.

“PCG will monitor (these MSR activities),” he added.

As this developed, Philippine Navy flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said the country and the PN is committed in pursuing its maritime interest and protecting its territorial integrity.

This also includes securing its sovereign right and jurisdiction over its maritime territory.

“The PN together with other government agencies/maritime stakeholders will continue to enforce all established laws and statutes both domestic and international. Depending on the circumstances at hand, the PN shall exercise sovereignty over its internal & territorial waters (save in case in the exercise of the right of innocent passage) as it continues to maintain its sovereign rights over its EEZ (exclusive economic zone),” he added in a statement June 17.

In the case of foreign MSR vessels spotted in Philippine waters without clearance, unless these ships are exercising the right of innocent passage, Bacordo said, these ships will be ushered away as a matter of protocol.

Earlier, reports provided by the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea indicated that a China-flagged MSR vessel, the Jia Geng, was spotted operating in the South China Sea and WPS regions last April and May.

The Jia Geng was first detected entering the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone on April 20, conducting several activities within the EEZ and Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in various periods until May 18.

“The Jia Geng appears to have conducted research and survey activities in the Philippine EEZ, first detected entering north off the Bajo de Masinloc (BdM) on April 20 and exiting the EEZ on April 23. The ship re-entered the EEZ on April 30 south off the BdM and was next monitored entering the KIG on May 2,” the NTF WPS report said.

BdM is also known internationally as Scarborough Shoal which lies some 124 nautical miles from Zambales.

“On May 6, the Jia Geng was monitored south off the oil-rich Recto Bank. On May 7, the vessel was observed 25.3 NM (nautical miles) northeast of the Chinese-occupied Mischief (Panganiban) Reef in the KIG. On May 8 the Jia Geng was again monitored just north of BdM, approximately 102NM west of Agno, Pangasinan,” it added.

NTF WPS added that on May 9, the ship departed the Philippine EEZ and docked in Xiamen on May 21 and was still there as of May 30.

During its stay on Philippine waters, the Chinese vessel was reportedly detected conducting activities consistent with a vessel undertaking a research expedition.

It also conducted several survey patterns such as “stop-and-go” and “lawnmower” maneuvers and returned repeatedly near the BdM and KIG.

“It can be deduced that the Jia Geng conducted an illegal research expedition in Philippine waters given the vessel’s movement,” NTF WPS said.