Chinese research ship seen east of Palawan; PCG aircraft deployed to challenge

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said a Chinese research vessel was spotted Wednesday morning in the country's archipelagic waters, not on the West Philippine Sea, but east of Palawan facing Visayas and Mindanao.

In a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said the Chinese research ship Song Hang was seen 58 nautical miles east of Aborlan in Palawan.

"I would just like to confirm that there is a presence of the Chinese research vessel. This is an ongoing operation. And I am not authorized to disclose the full details," he said.

"As of 8 a.m. this morning, the PCG monitored the Chinese research vessel Song Hang at a distance of approximately 58 nautical miles east of Aborlan, Palawan," he added.

According to Tarriela, the PCG deployed an aircraft to conduct a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight over the area and challenge the presence of the Chinese research ship.

"The PCG deployed our aircraft this morning to challenge the presence of this Chinese research vessel. As of this time, we are still doing the MDA flight as we monitor the presence of this Chinese research vessel," Tarriela said.

"We are challenging them that they are not authorized area of marine scientific research and that they are advised to leave the area," he added.

×

Need a wellness break? Sign up for The Boost!

Stay up-to-date with the latest health and wellness reads.

Please enter a valid email address

Sign Up

Your email is safe with us

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), former US Air Force official and ex-Defence Attaché Ray Powell first reported Tuesday that Chinese fisheries research ship Song Hang was seen transiting the Philippines' archipelagic waters heading to Celebes Sea.

????????#China's fisheries research ship Song Hong's AIS says it's en route to the SE Indian Ocean. However:
1? There's NO navigational reason for it to be in the ????????#Philippines' archipelagic waters.
2? All ????????#PRC research vessels are assumed to be dual-use ?????intelligence collectors.???? https://t.co/WJrE0HA82X pic.twitter.com/iYrk5mLnwa

— Ray Powell (@GordianKnotRay) April 2, 2025

On Wednesday, Powell said Song Hang's automatic identification system (AIS) showed that it was en route to the Southeast Indian Ocean.

"However: There's NO navigational reason for it to be in the Philippines' archipelagic waters. All China’s research vessels are assumed to be dual-use intelligence collectors," he said.

GMA News Online has requested comment from the Chinese Embassy in Manila regarding the monitored presence of the Song Hong.

Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the 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 refused to recognize the decision. — VDV, GMA Integrated News