In a recent initiative to safeguard the nation’s maritime interests, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), has ordered the deployment of a PCG aircraft to conduct a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) patrol yesterday. This action comes in response to the monitored presence of the Chinese Research Vessel, Xiang Yang Hong 05, which was tracked approximately 37 nautical miles off the coast of Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
The PCG aircraft successfully conducted its MDA flight yesterday afternoon and physically sighted the Xiang Yang Hong 05 at a distance of 14.92 nautical miles from Babuyan Island. The vessel was challenged by the PCG aircraft but did not respond. Notably, the Xiang Yang Hong 05 had previously departed from Guangdong province, China, on June 5, 2025, en route to the West Philippine Sea. It entered the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone on June 7, approximately 130 nautical miles from Burgos, Ilocos Norte, and subsequently left on June 9, only to re-enter the EEZ last July 31.
Based on its historical track, the Xiang Yang Hong 05 conducted substantial marine scientific research for almost 22 days after departing the Philippine EEZ and before re-entering. This research occurred along a parallel track in the Pacific Ocean, close to Guam at a distance of 42 nautical miles. As of this morning, the vessel was monitored via Automatic Identification System (AIS) approximately 86 nautical miles from Calayan Island, Cagayan.
The Xiang Yang Hong 05, a relatively new addition to China’s fleet of research vessels, has been converted from a cargo ship, raising concerns among neighboring countries due to its operations within sensitive maritime zones. Historically, the Xiang Yang Hong series has been associated with supporting the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) operations, dating back to the original vessels that participated in distant-water research and ballistic missile trials during the 1970s and 1980s.
The Philippine Coast Guard remains committed to monitoring and protecting the nation’s maritime jurisdiction, ensuring the safety and security of its waters against foreign vessels engaged in unauthorized and illegal maritime activities.
