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Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="The Armed Forces of the Philippines  has been monitoring the unauthorized presence of a Chinese-flagged research vessel, “SHEN KUO,” in the waters east of the Philippines. AFP handout " src="https://news-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com/api/upload-raw/20240429110456/9d094ad1751b6171c129059f5d771b625f5116642f5ecf5519c6edbf9773bcce.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><figcaption>The Armed Forces of the Philippines  has been monitoring the unauthorized presence of a Chinese-flagged research vessel, “SHEN KUO,” in the waters east of the Philippines. AFP handout </figcaption></figure></div>A Chinese-flagged research vessel first seen northeast of Viga, Catanduanes has moved near Northern Samar, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Monday.As of 7:30 a.m. on April 29, the vessel “Shen Kuo” was monitored at the vicinity 44.6 nautical miles northeast of Gamay, Northern Samar.AFP Public Affairs Office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the military continues to monitor the unauthorized presence and movement of the vessel in the eastern section of the country.“We are seeing that the vessel is loitering. From one point to another, nagta-traverse lang siya at nagloloiter lang doon. Stop and go, you can call it,” Trinidad told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday.Trinidad said given the vessel’s unusual movement, there is a possibility that it is surveying the area.“There are possibilities of a survey dahil… hindi naman siya considered an international highway for vessels. ‘Yung stop and go na movement is very unusual,” he said.Asked if there are efforts to board and search the vessel, Trinidad answered that it is up to maritime law enforcement agencies to decide.“We’ve been coordinating with them on what will be the possible actions for this particular incident,” he said.“We have to really protect and increase our maritime domain awareness, not just in the West Philippine Sea, but in the entire archipelago,” Trinidad added.<div>‘LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS, WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE’ </div>In a statement released on Sunday, the AFP said it first sighted the vessel “Shen Kuo” on April 25, approximately 60.9 nautical miles east off Rapu-Rapu Island in Albay. “Per latest reports from [the] Tactical Operations Wing, Southern Luzon (TOWSOL) who conducted maritime patrol (MARPAT) on April 27, it was observed that the vessel was lying-to in the area and had no personnel on the main deck,” the AFP said. The military said several attempts to contact the vessel through regular radio channels were unsuccessful, “indicating a lack of responsiveness or willingness to engage.” The AFP has already ordered nearby vessels for enhanced surveillance and reporting.<div>LOITERING OFF CATANDUANES  </div>Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela on Monday said the Chinese-flagged research vessel passed through Itbayat and Basco in Batanes before loitering in the vicinity waters off Catanduanes.This was based on the PCG’s monitoring through its automatic identification system (AIS).“According to the information gathered, the vessel departed from Shenzhen Port on April 13th and passed through Itbayat and Basco, Batanes on April 22nd,” Tarriela told reporters in a Viber message.He continued, “It then proceeded southwards, coming within 11 nautical miles of the coast of Mapanas, Northern Samar on April 25th. After that, it traveled north again until it reached the waters off Catanduanes, where it was monitored by the AFP.”

A Chinese-flagged research vessel first seen northeast of Viga, Catanduanes has moved near Northern Samar, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Monday.

A Chinese-flagged research vessel first seen northeast of Viga, Catanduanes has moved near Northern Samar, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Monday.

AFP: Chinese ship may be surveying eastern Philippines

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AFP: Chinese ship may be surveying eastern Philippines

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 29, 2024 06:59 PM PHT

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China

Shen Kuo

Catanduanes

maritime

Albay

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