MANILA 02 October 2026 – The Department firmly and strongly rejects the Chinese Embassy’s assertion that China has sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the waters off Batanes.
The Chinese research and survey vessel JIA HAI KE 7 was detected operating approximately 37 nautical miles northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, well within the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The Department affirms that the Philippine Coast Guard was conducting lawful and routine law enforcement operations in response to a suspected unauthorized Marine Scientific Research (MSR) activity in the waters off Batanes.
Under Article 246 of UNCLOS, marine scientific research in the EEZ and on the continental shelf shall be conducted with the consent of the coastal State. The Philippines did not receive any request from the Chinese side and no consent has been given to any Chinese vessel to conduct MSR.
We strongly call on China to fulfill its obligations under international law and avoid actions that are counter-productive and undermine efforts to rebuild mutual trust.
The Philippines will continue to uphold the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its EEZ peacefully and responsibly in accordance with international law.
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