Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1737342050479GhqZadzacAE9BYw.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">China Coast Guard vessel 3304 replaces the “monster ship” off Zambales. <em>Philippine Coast Guard/ PCG Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela/X </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA —  Beijing&#x27;s &quot;monster&quot; ship sailed away from Zambales province this weekend — only to be replaced by another China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel, an official said Monday.</p><p>The 165-meter monster ship, whose presence off Capones island was first confirmed on Jan. 4, was replaced by CCG vessel 3304 on Sunday afternoon, said Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/5/presence-of-china-monster-ship-in-zambales-a-show-of-force-analyst-1952">Presence of China monster ship in Zambales &#x27;a show of force&#x27;: analyst</a></div><p>“Kahit pa sabihin nating umalis itong monster ship na ito, it is still worth noting that the China Coast Guard 3304 is still a very big vessel. It has an overall length of 111 meters. Ang pinakamalaking barko natin is only 97 meters at ang [BRP] Gabriela Silang is 83 meters,” he told TeleRadyo Serbisyo.  </p><p>CCG 3304 which was monitored at 60.4 nautical miles away from Zambales on Monday.</p><p>PCG’s BRP Gabriela Silang issued a radio challenge against the CCG 3304, which was monitored about 60.4 nautical miles away from Zambales on Monday.</p><p>Meanwhile, the monster ship has not totally left the area but was anchored some 101.5 nautical miles away from Pundaquit, Zambales on Monday, Tarriela said.</p><p>He said the vessel is now nearer to Bajo De Masinloc in Zambales at a distance of 21.3 nautical miles.</p><p>“The average distance na mi-ne-maintain nila is 60 to 70 nautical miles away from our coastline. Yes, that’s obviously illegal,” Tarriela said.</p><p>“They are claiming na what they are doing is a maritime patrol, ibig sabihin kahit sila mismo…is not freedom of navigation,” he said. </p><p>When asked why radio challenge appeared to be the typical response of the PCG in asserting Philippine rights against Chinese inside the country’s EEZ, Tarriela said: “Hindi kami ang mabibigay ng ultimatum or magsasabing hanggang dito lang kayo, otherwise may gagawin kami.” </p><p>“Ang only mandate ng PCG is to challenge itong China Coast Guard and to keep on reminding them na ang ginagawa nila ay hindi naaayon sa International law, ang ginagawa nila ay violation ng UNLCOS at hindi pagtugon sa 2016 arbitral award,” he said.</p><p>The official said he understood the frustration of social media users who urged the government to take drastic moves against CCG.</p><p>“Bakit hindi na bombahin, mga karaniwang komento ng Pilipino…alam naman natin ang sentimyento nila. Naiinis sa ganitong iligal na gawain ng China. Bakit mahalaga na gawin natin ito - una sa lahat, bakit Coast Guard, dahil ito ay hindi nakakapag-escalate ng tension,” Tarriela said.</p><p>“Ang tamang response natin dito ay magpadala din white na barko ng PCG, sabihin natin na ang ginagawa nila ay ilegal at wala tayong intensyon na pataasin ang tensyon dito sa WPS, ito ang dahilan bakit Coast Guard lang ang ipinapadala, dahil ito ay non-provocative law enforcement character lang ang PCG,” he added.</p><p>A radio challenge to CCG is crucial in sending a message to the international community that China is violating the Philippines’ EEZ and not the other way around, Tarriela said.</p><p>“Napakahalaga na nire-radio challenge natin ito, dahil dito nasasabi natin sa publiko, sa international na komunidad na ang Pilipinas ay walang ginagawang activities na nagpapataas ng tensyon. We are documenting it, sinasabi natin sa mundo na ang China ang pumapasok sa EEZ natin, wala tayong intensyon na makipag-away,” Tarriela said.</p><p>“As far as the Coast Guard is concerned, ito ang pinaka-epektibong ginagawa natin ngayon, hindi tayo nang-aaway, at patuloy natin tinitindigan nga ang WPS ay atin at walang dahilan para patrolyahan ng China,” he continued.</p><p>Monday, January 20, marks the 16th day of China Coast Guard’s illegal deployment of its vessels off the coast of Zambales, Tarriela noted on X.</p><p>The Philippines earlier said China&#x27;s deployment of the &quot;monster&quot; coast guard vessel this month demonstrated Beijing&#x27;s &quot;increasing aggression&quot; in the disputed waterway.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s getting closer to the Philippine coastline... and that is alarming,&quot; National Security Council spokesman Jonathan Malaya told journalists Tuesday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/15/pcg-monster-ship-closest-deployment-yet-by-china-to-ph-shore-1304">PCG: &#x27;Monster ship&#x27; closest deployment yet by China to PH coastline</a></div><p>Chinese ships have been deployed closer to the Philippine coast this year, Malaya told AFP, with the latest movements an &quot;intimidation tactic&quot; intended to discourage Filipino fishing.</p><p>&quot;We do not and will not dignify these scare tactics by backing down. We do not waver, or cower in the face of intimidation,&quot; Malaya said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/14/philippines-tells-china-to-withdraw-monster-ship-near-zambales-1509">Philippines tells China to withdraw monster ship near Zambales</a></div><p>Meanwhile, China&#x27;s foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said its coast guard patrols were &quot;in accordance with the law&quot; and &quot;beyond reproach&quot;.</p><p>&quot;We once again warn the Philippine side to immediately stop all infringement, provocation, and hyping, and stop all actions that undermine peace and tranquility in the South China Sea and complicate the situation,&quot; Guo told a news conference.</p><div><strong>— With a report from Agence France-Presse </strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZdbaY5Y-1-M?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Beijing's "monster" ship sailed away from Zambales province this weekend — only to be replaced by another China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel, an official said Monday. </p>

Beijing's "monster" ship sailed away from Zambales province this weekend — only to be replaced by another China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel, an official said Monday.

China monster ship moves away from Zambales; new vessel takes its place: PCG

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China monster ship moves away from Zambales; new vessel takes its place: PCG

Jamaine Punzalan,

Johnson Manabat,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 20, 2025 11:09 AM PHT

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Updated January 20, 2025 04:18 PM PHT

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