Jamaine Punzalan

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela during a joint NTF-WPS press conference at the PCG Office in Manila on March 6, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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Bianca Dava

<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/175394547789920240306-afp-pcg-wps-presscon-JC-6.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela during a joint NTF-WPS press conference at the PCG Office in Manila on March 6, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday was monitoring two Chinese research vessels that entered the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).</p><p>As of noon, Chinese research vessels Zhu Hai Yun and Xiang Yang Hong were detected 195.94 nautical miles and 192.95 nautical miles, respectively, off the coast of Rizal, Palawan.</p><p>PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the two vessels departed Guangdong Province on June 23.</p><p>They entered the Philippine EEZ on Thursday morning.</p><p>“These two Chinese research vessels, umikot sa Balagtas Reef. Nitong umaga, both entered at the west coast of Luzon and nagtungo sa Balagtas Reef,” Tarriela told reporters in a virtual interview.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17539463358731753946331627.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:452px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17539463532731753946351003.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Courtesy: Philippine Coast Guard </span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>The PCG continues to monitor the movement and activities of the Chinese research ships.</p><p>According to Tarriela, they have yet to determine if the vessels deployed their underwater equipment “to prove that they are engaged in marine scientific research.”</p><p>“Continuous ang paggalaw nitong mga Chinese research vessel,” the official said.</p><p>“We have already alerted our CG district in Palawan and the commandant has also directed the deployment of a PCG vessel to ensure na ma-monitor natin ang ginagawa ng mga Chinese research vessel na ito. And if proven that they are actually conducting marine scientific research, we have to document this and submit this to proper authorities for us to act on these illegal activities of the People’s Republic of China,” he added.</p><p>Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), foreign vessels must obtain prior authorization from coastal states before conducting marine scientific research in their EEZs.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CHINESE SHIPS BACK IN BAJO DE MASINLOC</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Tarriela said China Coast Guard (CCG) ships have returned to the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal after leaving due to bad weather in the past weeks.</p><p>Three CCG vessels with bow numbers 4203, 5303 and 3502 were back in the area as of Thursday morning.</p><p>“Right now, dahil umayos na ang karagatan sa West Philippine Sea, the PCG is monitoring the presence of 3 CCG vessels na bumalik na sa vicinity ng Bajo de Masinloc. Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan has deployed our CCG vessel to carry out our maritime law enforcement patrol dito,” Tarriela said.</p><p>Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad on Tuesday noted that no Chinese vessels were monitored in Bajo de Masinloc on July 19 and 20, at the height of the inclement weather due to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2025/7/31/habagat-cyclone-death-toll-hits-37-ndrrmc-1053">severe tropical storm Crising and the enhanced southwest monsoon</a> or habagat.</p><p>Bajo de Masinloc is located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales and is well within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile EEZ.</p><p>On the other hand, it is 472 nautical miles from Hainan Province, China’s nearest land mass.</p><p>The shoal, however, has been under Beijing’s control since 2012.</p><div><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1pvhw2SlEpk" title="Marcos Jr. to ASEAN: Accelerate adoption of legally binding code of conduct in South China Sea | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lB8_EMo_cM8" title="Marcos&#x27; goal in West Philippine Sea, according to Teodoro | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Philippine Coast Guard on Thursday was monitoring two Chinese research vessels that entered the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. </p>

The Philippine Coast Guard on Thursday was monitoring two Chinese research vessels that entered the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Coast guard monitoring 2 Chinese research vessels in Philippine EEZ

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Coast guard monitoring 2 Chinese research vessels in Philippine EEZ

Bianca Dava

Published Jul 31, 2025 03:06 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 31, 2025 03:19 PM PHT

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West Philippine Sea

exclusive economic zone

Chinese research vessels

Philippine Coast Guard

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