February 5 ------ The two China Coast Guard (CCG) ships monitored by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) off the coast of Pangasinan over the weekend have exited the country’s waters. The CCG ships with bow numbers “3301” and “3104” were shadowed by PCG vessel BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) until they made their way out of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), according to Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS). “Throughout this operation, the Chinese vessels were radio challenged, highlighting their absence of legal authority to patrol the area as stipulated by the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” Tarriela said.
The Chinese ships were previously spotted 34 nautical miles off the coast of Bolinao, Pangasinan on Sunday, Feb. 2, before moving to Luna, La Union. the PCG said this has been the closest distance made by an intruding Chinese ship to Philippines' shore. As of 7 a.m. Monday, the CCG ships were tracked at 61 nautical miles and 81 nautical miles from the coastal province of Guangdong in southeast China. The Chinese ships insisted that they were patrolling China’s internal waters.
In a footage provided by Tarriela, a radio challenge from CCG-3104 could be heard: “Philippine Coast Guard vessel 4409, this is China Coast Guard vessel 3104 patrolling the sea area of the People’s Republic of China in accordance with the law. Your behavior has threatened our safety of navigation. Please keep at least two nautical miles away from our vessel. Over.” China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including parts within the Philippines’ EEZ. However, Tarriela reiterated that the PCG’s commitment remains unwavering to uphold the nation’s maritime rights and safeguard national interests in the WPS.
He ensured that while the PCG won’t allow Chinese vessels to encroach closer to the country’s coastline, its vigilant approach to shoo the foreign vessels away will be carried out “without escalating tensions.”
Source: mb.com.ph
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