Philippines Confronts China’s ‘Monster’ Ship in Disputed Sea
(Bloomberg) -- The Philippines has accused a giant Chinese coast guard vessel dubbed the “Monster” of maintaining an “illegal presence” in its exclusive economic zone as Beijing ramps up activities in the disputed South China Sea.
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Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela said in a post Monday on X that one of its vessels, the BRP Cabra, has been tailing the 12,000-ton Chinese patrol vessel since it was first spotted off the coast of Capones Island in the western province of Zambales on Saturday.
The ship’s “erratic movements indicate it is not engaged in innocent passage but rather asserts that it is conducting a law enforcement operation,” Tarriela said in his post.
“In response, the crew of BRP Cabra has remained steadfast in challenging this assertion, diligently tailing and shadowing CCG-5901 to uphold Philippine sovereign rights,” he added. This emphasizes “the importance of persistently confronting the illegal presence of the People’s Republic of China and ensuring the safety and security of Filipino fishermen operating in the area.”
The ship’s presence marks the latest move by China to bolster its sweeping claim to most of the South China Sea after the military’s Southern Theater Command held large scale combat readiness drills around the disputed Scarborough Shoal last month. The state-run Global Times reported on Monday that the Chinese Coast Guard is set to increase patrols in the area and stated any so-called law enforcement activities “are entirely justified.”
“It is beyond reproach for China Coast Guard to patrol and conduct law-enforcement activities in relevant waters in accordance with the law,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Tuesday when asked about the matter during a regular press briefing in Beijing.
Beijing and Manila have been locked in long-running dispute over the South China Sea, a vital trade route that holds huge energy potential, and clashes have became more frequent as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. deepened security ties with the US in a bid to assert its own claims.
Bigger than a US Navy destroyer, China’s CCG-5901 is armed with anti-aircraft guns and fuel storage capacities enabling it to undertake extended missions. It regularly sails in and around the energy-rich waters Vietnam has spent years trying to develop and was reportedly anchored in Manila’s exclusive economic zone back in July.
--With assistance from Philip Glamann.
(Updates with remark from Chinese official in the sixth paragraph)
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