Cheyenne Suarez

BRP Cabra steps in to challenge China vessels' presence off Zambales coast

Article (news)

Rowegie Abanto

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1737595687479pcg cabra.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="BRP Cabra steps in to challenge China vessels&#x27; presence off Zambales coast. Philippine Coast GuardBRP Cabra steps in to challenge China vessels&#x27; presence off Zambales coast. Philippine Coast Guard"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">BRP Cabra steps in to challenge China vessels&#x27; presence off Zambales coast. <em>Philippine Coast Guard</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATE) </strong>— The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that BRP Cabra has replaced BRP Suluan to continue challenging the illegal presence of the China Coast Guard (CCG) in the waters of Zambales within the Philippines&#x27; exclusive economic zone.</p><p>In a statement Wednesday night, Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG&#x27;s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said that BRP Cabra sailed 65 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales or near where BRP Suluan had been patrolling.</p><p>&quot;Upon arriving in the area where BRP Suluan has been monitoring CCG vessel 3103, it was noted that another CCG vessel, identified by bow number 3304, was approaching their location,&quot; Tarriela said in a post on X.</p><p>&quot;This indicates that the CCG may anticipate the PCG deploying two vessels in response. However, as BRP Suluan made its way back to Subic, Zambales, CCG-3304 also retreated further from the coastline,&quot; he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/20/china-monster-ship-moves-away-from-zambales-new-vessel-takes-its-place-pcg-1109">China monster ship moves away from Zambales; new vessel takes its place: PCG</a></div><p>BRP Cabra is now engaged in hourly radio challenges with CCG-3103 to remind them of their violations of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and of the 2016 arbitral award by the international court in The Hague, which ruled that Beijing&#x27;s sweeping claims in the South China Sea have no legal basis.</p><p>Tarriela also said that the presence of the PCG vessel was intended to prevent the CCG from getting closer to Zambales&#x27; shores.</p><p>&quot;Despite challenging sea conditions and the size of the waves, the courageous men and women aboard BRP Cabra remain committed to safeguarding Philippine maritime rights and enforcing the rule of law, all while maintaining a stance of non-provocation,&quot; he said.</p><p>As of Thursday, PCG said BRP Cabra has prevented CCG-3103 from approaching Zambales through its “strategic maneuvering”.</p><p>“BRP Cabra continues its vigilant monitoring of the illegal presence of the Chinese Coast Guard vessel with bow number 3103 within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The strategic maneuvering of BRP Cabra has effectively kept CCG-3103 from getting closer to the coastline of Zambales,” PCG said in a statement.</p><p>The CCG vessel has also been pushed farther away from the coast of Zambales.</p><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABTcsnV8kphWJCvC&amp;activation=click&amp;vip_mode=playing&amp;vip_position=bottom-right"></script><p>The PCG since early January 2025 has been closely monitoring the Chinese vessels&#x27; illegal activities inside the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>Last week, the PCG said that China&#x27;s &quot;monster ship&quot; deployed off Zambales was so far Beijing&#x27;s closest vessel yet to the Philippine coastline.</p><p>The PCG first detected the 12,000-ton China Coast Guard vessel some 54 nautical miles away from Capones Island on January 4 — the closest it sailed near the country&#x27;s coastline and well within the nation&#x27;s exclusive economic zone, Tarriela confirmed to ABS-CBN News in a message.</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>National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya earlier said China&#x27;s deployment of its largest coast guard vessel inside the Philippines&#x27; exclusive economic zone was alarming and intended to intimidate Filipino fishermen.</p><p>&quot;It is clearly a provocative act and a clear attempt to intimidate our fishermen and deprive them of their legitimate livelihood,&quot; Malaya said.</p><p>&quot;We were surprised by the increase in aggression being shown by the PRC [People&#x27;s Republic of China] 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,&quot; he said.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</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/uvkP-hB7QzA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Philippine Coast Guard said that BRP Cabra has replaced BRP Suluan to continue challenging the illegal presence of the China Coast Guard in the waters of Zambales within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.</p>

The Philippine Coast Guard said that BRP Cabra has replaced BRP Suluan to continue challenging the illegal presence of the China Coast Guard in the waters of Zambales within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.