This morning, the Philippine Coast Guard Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, deployed PCG Islander 4177 off the coast of Batanes to monitor and challenge the Chinese research vessel “ZHONG SHAN DA XUE.” At approximately 8 AM, the PCG Islander detected the Chinese research vessel at coordinates Lat 21°18.457 N, Long 123°12.281, roughly 78.21 nautical miles northeast of Itbayat, Batanes.
The crew of the PCG Islander attempted to establish radio communication with the vessel multiple times, but there was no response. PCG aviators underscored on their radio challenge that the said Chinese vessel lacks the authority to conduct marine scientific research within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines, emphasizing that its activities constitute a clear violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.
