Chinese-flagged research vessel detected near Catanduanes —AFP

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) over the weekend said it detected the unauthorized presence of a Chinese-flagged research vessel northeast of Viga in Catanduanes, which faces the Philippine Sea, in the past week.

In a statement released Sunday, the AFP said the vessel Shen Kuo was first sighted last Thursday, April 25, at 60.9 nautical miles east off Rapu-Rapu Island in Albay.

The vessel was found to be lying-to in the area and had no personnel on the main deck, based on the latest reports from the maritime patrol of the Tactical Operations Wing Southern Luzon (TOWSOL) on Saturday, April 27.

“Several attempts to contact the vessel through regular channels were unsuccessful, indicating a lack of responsiveness or willingness to engage,” the AFP said.

“The AFP remains vigilant, monitoring any unauthorized research vessel in our maritime domain. We have already tasked nearby vessels for enhanced surveillance and reporting,” it added.

This comes as more Chinese vessels were seen shadowing naval vessels of the Philippines, the United States, and France during the Balikatan joint military exercise in the West Philippine Sea on Sunday, April 28.

A day prior, a surveillance vessel from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy with bow number 793 also shadowed US and Philippine vessels from 3 nautical miles.

The Philippine Navy has monitored some 110 Chinese militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea since the start of the Balikatan exercises which started on April 22, and will last until May 10. This compares with the previous weekly average of 30 to 60 vessels. — BM, GMA Integrated News