China monster ship in PH EEZ concerns Palace

Malacañang views the presence of the China Coast Guard's ''monster ship'' in the country's exclusive economic zone with concern, according to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Tuesday.

At a press briefing, Bersamin said the monster ship's presence in the region is a matter of projection. He ensured that Philippine forces have continued to challenge the presence of Beijing's ship despite it being non-confrontational. 

''We view it with concern. So far, we have been challenging the presence of that monster ship, our Coast Guard has always been very alert in following up 'yung presence of that monster ship, pasulpot-sulpot,'' Bersamin said. 

''In the end kasi nothing confrontational happens so maaaring projection ang issue dito but I'm not going to say anything more because that's a matter of operations,'' he added.

Bersamin said the Philippine government has always been filing protests against China's continued presence and aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

He added that there have been vice ministerial talks between Manila and Beijing to address issues in the region.

''This is the precise issue that they address, 'yung settlement of the dispute in the West Philippine Sea,'' Bersamin said. 

The Philippine Coast Guard earlier said the presence of the China Coast Guard’s “monster ship'' inside the country's EEZ was a ploy to intimidate local fisherfolk in the area.

Over the weekend, PCG personnel, through the use of dark vessel detection technology from Canada, detected the so-called “monster ship” of the China Coast Guard within 54 nautical miles of the Capones Island off the Zambales coast.

PH Navy also concerned

The Philippine Navy has also expressed concerns over the monster ship's presence in the country's EEZ.

“It is concerning,” Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a press briefing.

“Not only the monster ship but even the other intrusions in our EEZ in the West Philippine Sea—the CCG, [People's Liberation Army Navy], maritime militia, and research vessels on the eastern seaboard, on the northern passage,” Trinidad added.

According to Trinidad, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is continuing its mandate of patrolling the country’s seas and air.

“We will not be deterred in spite of the presence, illegal presence of any foreign vessel,” he added.

Trinidad referred to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on the details of the presence of the monster ship as the agency has been tracking the Chinese ship on a daily basis. The monster ship was first spotted 54 nautical miles away from Capones Island, Zambales on Saturday. This was within the 200-nautical-mile EEZ of the Philippines.

In response, the PCG deployed BRP Cabra, a helicopter, and the PCG Caravan to check the Chinese ship. The PCG challenged the presence of the CCG by asserting that the vessel was inside the Philippine EEZ.

The monster ship on Monday morning moved near Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro.

PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said that based on their observations, the Chinese vessel’s “erratic movements” showed that it was not engaged in innocent passage.

“Observations reveal that the CCG vessel's erratic movements indicate it is not engaged in innocent passage but rather asserts that it is conducting a law enforcement operation, claiming jurisdiction over these waters as belonging to the People's Republic of China,” Tarriela said.

“The Philippine Coast Guard reaffirms its dedication to protecting the nation's maritime interests and will continue to monitor the activities of the CCG’s illegitimate presence,” he added.

—with reports from Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News