Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Carlos Trazo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1777786333532173398085729720230630-china-spratlys-HO-12.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Armed Forces of the Philippines reports Chinese vessel swarming in Iroquois and Sabina, posing threat to Recto Bank security. Forty-eight Chinese fishing vessels have been reported to be swarming Iroquois Reef, located south of the oil and gas-rich Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea. This information comes from the latest air patrol conducted on June 30, 2023. <em>Courtesy of Western Command Armed Forces of the Philippines</em><br/></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has detected four Chinese research vessels operating near Philippine waters, which it determined were conducting illegal marine scientific research without government consent.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/12/china-carrying-out-maritime-occupation-in-west-philippine-sea-analyst-1326">China carrying out &#x27;maritime occupation&#x27; in West Philippine Sea: analyst</a></div><p>The vessels were tracked using Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection (DVD) System, with PCG noting their advanced capabilities and positions near Palawan, Batanes, and Pangasinan. </p><p>Among those monitored were the Xiangyanghong 33, Shi Yan 1, Jia Geng, and Zhuhaiyun—vessels equipped for deep-sea exploration, hydro-acoustics, and unmanned drone deployment.</p><p>PCG officials said the activities violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as no prior authorization was sought from the Philippine government.</p><p>In response, the Coast Guard announced immediate deployment of aircraft and vessels to challenge and drive away the Chinese ships.</p><p>Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, underscored the agency’s firm stance: &quot;We will not tolerate any illegal marine scientific research conducted without our government’s consent. We are deploying aircraft and vessels to challenge and drive away these unauthorized vessels to protect Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights.”</p><p>The PCG said it continues to closely monitor the movements of the Chinese vessels in line with Philippine laws, international maritime law, and UNCLOS.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong><br/><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/MmVXnmVjaYo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has detected four Chinese research vessels operating near Philippine waters, which it determined were conducting illegal marine scientific research without government consent.</p>

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has detected four Chinese research vessels operating near Philippine waters, which it determined were conducting illegal marine scientific research without government consent.

PCG deploys ships, aircraft to drive away Chinese research vessels in PH waters

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PCG deploys ships, aircraft to drive away Chinese research vessels in PH waters

Carlos Trazo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 03, 2026 01:37 PM PHT

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