January 20 ------ China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901, also known as the monster ship, moved away from the Zambales coast but another Chinese vessel approached the area, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. “At approximately 3 PM, CCG-5901 moved further away from the PCG vessel, while another vessel, CCG-3304, approached the coast of Zambales,” PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a statememt Sunday evening. “As of 9 PM, CCG-5901 was monitored at an approximate distance of 95 nautical miles from the coast of Zambales, with CCG-3304 at 65 nautical miles,” he added.
Like the monster ship, Tarriela said the newly deployed Chinese vessel CCG 3304 is also larger than the biggest PCG vessel BRP Gabriela Silang, which has been monitoring Chinese ships in the area. “Although the monster ship has departed, it is important to note that CCG-3304, its replacement, remains larger than the largest PCG vessel. CCG-3304 measures 111 meters in length and 46 meters in width,” he said. “Despite this, the 83-meter BRP Gabriela Silang continues to diligently fulfill its patriotic mission of challenging the unlawful presence of the Chinese Coast Guard,” he added.
The PCG has been issuing hourly radio challenges to the CCG to call out that their Chinese operations within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award. The PCG first confirmed the presence of the Chinese vessel near Capones Island on January 4. The Philippines last week said it has filed a diplomatic protest and called on China to withdraw its monster ship from the Philippine waters.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Tuesday defended their ship's intrusion inside Philippine territory. "We have responded to similar questions multiple times. Let me reiterate that China’s sovereignty and rights and interests in the South China Sea were established in the long course of history, and are solidly grounded in history and the law and compliant with the international law and practice," the official said. Guo maintained the CCG "conducts patrols and law enforcement activities in relevant waters in accordance with the law, which is fully justified." "We call on the Philippines once again to immediately stop all infringement activities, provocations and false accusations, and stop all its actions that jeopardize peace and stability and complicate the situation in the South China Sea," he added. 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.
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 refused to recognize the decision.
Source: gmanetwork.com