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China Coast Guard vessel patrols near Manila Bay — expert
A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel was monitored holding "intrusive patrols" near Manila Bay on Thursday morning, according to a maritime monitoring expert.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), former United States Air Force official and former defense attaché Ray Powell also said that another Chinese vessel has turned off its Automatic Information System (AIS) transponder to avoid detection since July 22.
"China's intrusive patrols continue with China Coast Guard 3301 cruising outside Manila Bay this morning. Meanwhile, CCG 3105 has been AIS-dark since 22 July," Powell said.
????????#China's intrusive patrols continue with China Coast Guard 3301 cruising outside Manila Bay this morning. Meanwhile, CCG 3105 has been AIS-dark since 22 July.
— Ray Powell (@GordianKnotRay) July 24, 2024
Intrusive patrolling: https://t.co/XMHhupl45m
Going dark: https://t.co/7LjTApfJX6 https://t.co/ednahch4AG pic.twitter.com/YWaikAyfHH
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that it detected the same Chinese ship traveling 62.08 nautical miles west of Capones Island, Zambales on Thursday.
"CCGV 3301 departed from Bajo de Masinloc on July 21, 2024, and headed towards El Nido, Palawan, where it joined the Zhaotim-class CCGV 3105," Tarriela said in a statement.
"On July 23, 2024, it moved to the northeast of Recto Bank and stayed there for more than a day before proceeding towards its current location," he added.
Earlier today, the Philippine Coast Guard, using Canada's Dark Vessel Detection technology, detected the Shucha II-class China Coast Guard Vessel 3301 traveling at a speed of nine knots approximately 62.08 nautical miles west of Capones Island, Zambales.
— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) July 25, 2024
CCGV 3301 departed from… pic.twitter.com/wcNnLiFHgV
Tarriela noted that CCG 3105 did not make significant movements and stayed 64.5 nautical miles away from Tapiutan, El Nido, Palawan.
Tensions have risen between the Philippines and China amid Beijing's massive claim in the South China Sea (SCS), parts of which overlap with the West Philippine Sea.
Earlier this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported that the Philippines and China have reached an understanding on an arrangement that will avoid altercations at the disputed Ayungin Shoal.
The move is aimed at easing tensions after last month's violent confrontation at the Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal being claimed by Beijing.
Both sides have laid out a set of mutually agreed principles and arrangement at the shoal, also known by its international name Second Thomas Shoal and called Ren'ai Jiao by the Chinese, through a recent exchange of diplomatic notes, diplomatic sources told GMA News Online.
The SCS is a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Aside from the Philippines, China has overlapping claims in the area with Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei.
In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."
China has rejected the decision. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
