The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), utilizing Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection (DVD) Program, has tracked the unauthorized presence of China Coast Guard vessel CCG-4305 drifting within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), approximately 48 nautical miles west of the coastline of Pandaquit, Zambales.
Upon confirmation of its illegal presence, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan immediately ordered the deployment of both aerial and surface assets to challenge and drive away the Chinese vessel from Philippine maritime jurisdiction.
This morning, the PCG Piper Navajo 302 took off from La Union Airport to conduct a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight over the area where the CCG vessel was detected. At approximately 8:40 AM, the PCG aircraft visually confirmed CCG-4305 lying-to within the Philippine EEZ, at a distance of 50.1 nautical miles west of Pandaquit, Zambales. The PCG aircrew issued numerous radio challenges, which the Chinese vessel refused to acknowledge. The PCG Piper Navajo 302 also conducted multiple passes to document the unlawful incursion before returning to the airport.
At sea, BRP Cape San Agustin (MRRV-4408) proceeded to the confirmed location of the CCG vessel and conducted firm radio challenges to CCG-4305 throughout the day. Although the Chinese vessel briefly acknowledged the initial challenge in the morning, it subsequently went silent and refused to respond to subsequent challenges. Notably, CCG-4305 provided no lawful basis for its presence within the Philippines’ EEZ.
In compliance with the President’s directive, the PCG will never allow the normalization of illegal patrols by the China Coast Guard off the coast of Zambales. These activities constitute a direct violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan expressed his firm commitment: “The PCG remains resolute in defending the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction through sustained MDA flights, vessel deployments, and lawful enforcement operations across the West Philippine Sea.”
