Ched Rick Gatchalian

China Coast Guard's "monster ship" off the coast of Zambales, January 12, 2025. Handout/Philippine Coast Guard

Article (news)

PH tells China to withdraw monster ship near Zambales

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1736837970476monster ship.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>China Coast Guard&#x27;s &quot;monster ship&quot; off the coast of Zambales, January 12, 2025. Handout/Philippine Coast Guard  MANILA -- Manila on Tuesday demanded that Beijing immediately withdraw its 12,000-ton China Coast Guard vessel 5901 known as “The Monster” from Philippine waters. National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said China’s deployment of its largest coast guard vessel inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) was alarming and clearly intended to intimidate Filipino fishermen.</div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/13/marcos-maritime-office-calls-out-china-s-escalatory-actions-in-west-ph-sea-1451">Palace maritime office calls out China&#x27;s &#x27;escalatory actions&#x27; in West Philippine Sea</a> “It is clearly a provocative act and a clear attempt to intimidate our fishermen and deprive them of their legitimate livelihood,” Malaya said during the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea press conference. “We were surprised by the increase in aggression being shown by the PRC in deploying the monster ship. The monster ship is not close to Bajo de Masinloc but it is getting closer to the Philippine coastline. That is alarming,” he added. Malaya said the Philippine government would continue supporting Filipino fishermen.<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/12/pcg-continues-to-monitor-chinas-monster-ship-amid-rough-seas-2150">PCG continues to monitor China&#x27;s &#x27;monster ship&#x27; amid rough seas</a> “They are underestimating the resolve of the Philippine government to support our Filipino fishermen. As a nation unified in securing what is legally ours, we do not and will not dignify these scare tactics by backing down,” he said. As of Tuesday morning, the monster ship was located 77 nautical miles west of Capones Island in Zambales. The Philippine Coast Guard has deployed the BRP Teresa Magbanua, its largest vessel, and the BRP Gabriela Silang to continuously challenge and drive away the Chinese vessel. The Department of Foreign Affairs also filed a diplomatic protest over China’s recent illegal actions in the West Philippine Sea. Malaya said the Philippine government would utilize “all diplomatic mechanisms” with China. “I was told by the DFA they will raise this matter. They have already issued a diplomatic protest against the presence of the monster ship and that they will exhaust all efforts to relay this message to the PRC—that the presence of the monster ship is illegal and unacceptable to the PH government,” the official said.<div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3VvL4WthskY" title="PCG diligently keeps eye on China&#x27;s &#x27;monster ship&#x27; amid rough seas | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> </div><div>KEEPING OPTIONS OPEN</div> Asked if the Philippines had plans to seek the help of its allies in challenging Chinese presence within the EEZ, Malaya said they were “keeping our options open.” “Right now, the ball is in the court of the PRC,” Malaya told reporters. “We are at a situation where the Philippine government is alarmed by the presence of the monster ship. We have made a clear demand with the Chinese government to withdraw the monster ship, so let’s see what their response will be. We’ll take it from there.” “It is increasing tensions in the region. Based on statements coming from Beijing, they also do not want to increase tensions in the region. It is not in any country’s interest to have this type of situation where tensions are increasing. So, we hope that China will not push the envelope, because the more they push the envelope, the more things become complicated,” he added. The official noted that it was because of Beijing’s aggressive actions—such as reclamation and militarization activities—that Manila was strengthening its alliances with other nations. “When we strengthen alliances with other nations, things like the RAA, which we never contemplated before, are now becoming reality. The moment we signed the RAA, they say it is provocative. I hope the PRC understands that this would not have happened if not for them,” Malaya said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/12/china-deploys-monster-ship-off-zambales-as-pcg-pushes-away-other-chinese-vessel-1614">China deploys ‘monster ship’ off Zambales coast as PCG ship pushes away other Chinese vessel</a> </div><div>RED LINE</div> Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines assured said it had contingency measures in place to counter possible Chinese reclamation activities in Bajo de Masinloc, which the Philippines considers a “red line.”<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/6/beijing-warned-not-to-cross-manila-s-red-lines-2144">Beijing warned not to cross Manila&#x27;s &#x27;red lines&#x27;</a> “There are four red lines given by the Philippine government. One of these is no reclamation on Bajo de Masinloc. The AFP, the Navy has appropriate contingency plans in place in the event this will be violated,” Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said. Also considered as red lines are the non-removal of the BRP Sierra Madre, no unilateral destruction of natural resources within the EEZ, and no impairment of rotation and resupply missions.

Manila has demanded Beijing to immediately withdraw its 12,000-ton China Coast Guard vessel 5901 known as “The Monster” from Philippine waters.

Manila has demanded Beijing to immediately withdraw its 12,000-ton China Coast Guard vessel 5901 known as “The Monster” from Philippine waters.

Philippines tells China to withdraw monster ship near Zambales

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Philippines tells China to withdraw monster ship near Zambales

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 14, 2025 03:09 PM PHT

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Updated January 14, 2025 03:16 PM PHT

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