Chinese MSR ships spotted in PH EEZ off Siargao, Davao Oriental

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, Philippine News Agency

SIGHTING. Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela confirms the sighting of two Chinese vessels entering the country’s exclusive economic zone off Siargao and Davao Oriental, during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City on Nov. 30, 2024. The ships were spotted on Nov. 17 and Nov. 20. (PNA poto by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Saturday confirmed the sighting of two Chinese marine scientific research (MSR) ships entering the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near Siargao and Davao Oriental.

At a news forum in Quezon City, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Commodore Jay Tarriela, said the PCG had initially detected three MSR ships – the Xiang Yang Hong 3, Jia Geng, and Xiang Yang Hong 10 – about 257 nautical miles northeast of Santa Ana, Cagayan outside the Philippine EEZ on Nov. 17.

The Jia Geng was spotted once within the nation’s 200 nautical-mile EEZ near Davao Oriental on Nov. 14 while the Xiang Yang Hong 10 was seen east of Siargao Island, within the EEZ, on Nov. 20.

“For the EEZ, since the Philippines has sovereign rights to exploit and explore these areas, dapat for a foreign-flagged marine scientific research, dapat humihingi sila ng clearance (a foreign-flagged MSR should have requested a clearance),” Tarriela said.

“For the Coast Guard, we will communicate this to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea and it is up to the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) to take action regarding their presence.”

He said the vessels entered and passed through the waters but did not linger.

Still, the PCG will continue to monitor and document the vessels’ movements, he said.

As of Saturday morning, all three were spotted near the border of the Philippine EEZ or 211 nautical miles off Siargao Island.

“It is outside of our exclusive economic zone. However, we’re still monitoring itong paggalaw nitong Chinese research vessels na ito because at some point it entered our exclusive economic zone noong mga nakaraang araw (They are outside of our EEZ. However, we’re still monitoring their movement because, at some point, they entered our EEZ),” he said.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila and the DFA have yet to respond when asked for comment.

‘Always a cause for concern’

In the same forum, Tarriela said the Philippines remains concerned over the presence of Chinese maritime militias near the Pag-asa Island in the western part of the country following reports of swarming earlier this week.

More than 80 Chinese vessels were monitored in Pag-asa Island’s territorial sea on Nov. 27 but Tarriela said it might have been due to bad weather.

“This has always been a concern for the Philippine government. We are explaining the phenomenon, bakit tumaas at bakit bumaba (why it increased and why the number went down),” he said.

“But every time na pumapasok din naman sila sa territorial sea natin sa (But every time they enter our territorial sea in) Pag-asa, we are constantly radio-challenging these Chinese maritime militia,” he assured.

Based on the PCG’s latest monitoring, the number of Chinese vessels in the Philippine feature has gone down to 30.