The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), utilizing the Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection program, detected the Chinese Research Vessel (CRV) Tan Suo Er Hao approaching within approximately 19 nautical miles off the coast of Cagayan province in northern Luzon.
In response, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan immediately ordered this morning the deployment of a PCG Islander aircraft to conduct a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight. The operation aimed to challenge the vessel’s presence, verify whether it was conducting marine scientific research without prior consent from the Philippine government – in potential violation of Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) – and assert the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The CRV Tan Suo Er Hao, an 87.25-meter advanced deep-sea scientific research vessel operated by the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, serves as a mothership for manned and unmanned deep-sea submersibles and supports comprehensive deep-sea operations.
Monitoring indicated that the vessel departed from Hainan province in China earlier this month and transited through the western Philippine EEZ. During the MDA flight, the PCG aircraft sighted the CRV heading eastward at coordinates Latitude 18°34.021′ N, Longitude 123°17.042′ E, approximately 55.78 nautical miles east of Santa Ana, Cagayan.
The PCG pilot issued multiple radio challenges to the vessel, inquiring about its intentions and reminding it of the requirement for prior consent for marine scientific research in Philippine waters. The CRV Tan Suo Er Hao did not respond to any of the radio calls.
The Philippine Coast Guard remains vigilant in protecting the country’s maritime domain and will continue to monitor and challenge unauthorized activities within the Philippine EEZ in accordance with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr of upholding national sovereignty and maritime laws.
