PCG: 'Loitering' Chinese-flagged research vessel in Catanduanes back to Northern Samar

The Chinese-flagged research vessel seen northeast of Viga, Catanduanes already moved back near Mapanas, Northern Samar as of Sunday evening, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Monday.

“As of 6 p.m. yesterday, the vessel is slowly moving approximately 78 nautical miles northeast off Mapanas, Northern Samar,” PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela told reporters in a message.

Northern Samar waters are facing the Philippine Sea. 

On Sunday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the vessel Shen Kuo was first sighted on Thursday at 60.9 nautical miles east off Rapu-Rapu Island in Albay.

It was found to be lying-to in the area and had no personnel on the main deck, based on reports from the maritime patrol of the Tactical Operations Wing Southern Luzon on Saturday.

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

"Ang susunod po nating hakbang ay magpadala ng barko para i-intercept at alamin kung ano ang ginagawa ng barkong yan sa ating exclusive economic zone," said National Security Council Assistant Director Jonathan Malaya in Jun Veneracion's Monday 24 Oras report.

According to the PCG, the vessel departed from Shenzhen Port on April 13 and passed through Itbayat and Basco Batanes on April 22.

The vessel then moved southward within 11 nautical miles off the coast of Mapanas, Northern Samar on April 25, before travelling north again until it reached the waters off Catanduanes where it was monitored by the AFP, according to Tarriela.

The “loitering” of the Chinese-flagged research vessel came as more Chinese ships were seen shadowing the Philippines, the United States, and France naval vessels during the Balikatan joint military exercise in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Sunday.

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

Amid the start of the Balikatan exercises, the Philippine Navy also monitored a surge of 124 Chinese vessels in the WPS. —KBK, GMA Integrated News