Cheyenne Suarez

This Philippine Coast Guard handout photo shows China Coast Guard ship 5901, which BRP Cabra spotted off Zambales on Jan. 4, 2025, file

Article (news)

New China Coast Guard vessel approaches Zambales as 'monster ship' moves away

Bianca Dava

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/1736328216643New-China-Coast-Guard.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="This Philippine Coast Guard handout photo shows China Coast Guard ship 5901, which BRP Cabra spotted off Zambales on Jan. 4, 2025, file"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">This Philippine Coast Guard handout photo shows China Coast Guard ship 5901, which BRP Cabra spotted off Zambales on Jan. 4, 2025, file </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — China Coast Guard vessel 5901 — called the &quot;monster ship&quot; for its size — has departed from the coastline of Zambales and is now approximately 90 nautical miles offshore, according to Philippine Cast Guard monitoring.</p><p>The PCG has also tracked CCG-3103, which left Guangdong Province on Tuesday and is heading directly to where CCG-5901 was.</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>As of 3 p.m. on Wednesday, CCG-3103 was detected by Canada&#x27;s Dark Vessel Detection at a distance of 60 nautical miles — within the 200-nautical mile Philippine exclusive economic zone — from Pandaquit, Zambales.</p><p>This suggests CCG-3103 is sailing to the area as a replacement vessel for the monster ship to sustain China&#x27;s illegal presence in the Philippine EEZ.</p><p>A PCG Islander plane ordered deployed to the area by Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan, PCG commandant, has confirmed CCG-3103&#x27;s presence near where CCG-5901 was spotted over the weekend.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/7/afp-says-not-deterred-by-presence-of-china-s-monster-ship-in-ph-eez-1505">AFP says not deterred by presence of China’s monster ship in PH EEZ</a></div><p>BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) has also been sent to the area to monitor CCG-3103 and challenge its presence in Philippine waters.</p><p>The PCG has been monitoring the &quot;monster ship&quot; since last Saturday, when it was spotted by the Dark Vessel Detection system 54 nautical miles off Capones Island in Zambales. </p><p>Commodre Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea, said BRP Cabra and two coast guard aircraft were sent to the area to confirm its presence.</p><p>The PCG ship and aircraft “continuously challenged the presence of the Chinese Coast Guard, emphasizing that it was operating within the Philippines&#x27; Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in accordance with the Philippine Maritime Zones Law and UNCLOS,” he said. </p><div><br/></div><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/xTG2N5k4E1E?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The PCG has been monitoring the "monster ship" since last Saturday, when it was spotted by the Dark Vessel Detection system 54 nautical miles off Capones Island in Zambales.</p>

The PCG has been monitoring the "monster ship" since last Saturday, when it was spotted by the Dark Vessel Detection system 54 nautical miles off Capones Island in Zambales.