The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), utilizing Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection Program, has effectively tracked three Chinese research vessels operating without authorization in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). These vessels are suspected of engaging in illegal marine scientific research (MSR), prompting the PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, to issue immediate orders to intercept and challenge them.
The first vessel, BEI DIAO 996, set sail from Guangdong Province, China, on June 16, 2025, and entered the Philippine EEZ roughly a week later. It is currently located 185 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales and is involved in MSR activities about 40 nautical miles west of Bajo de Masinloc. The BEI DIAO 996 is a civilian research vessel with dual-use capabilities, specializing in testing underwater acoustic sensors and sonar equipment. It is China’s largest test ship for deep-sea operations and the world’s largest SWATH catamaran, designed for stable performance in adverse weather.
The other two vessels, XIANG YANG HONG 10 and ZHUHAI YUN, departed from Guangdong Province on June 23, 2025, and entered the Philippine EEZ on June 25, approximately 200 nautical miles off the coast of Bolinao, Pangasinan. Their movements indicate joint MSR operations near Balagtas Reef, and they are currently positioned 195 nautical miles off the coast of Rizal, Palawan.
The XIANG YANG HONG 10 is a multi-purpose research vessel capable of deep-sea surveys and supporting unmanned autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for seafloor mapping and environmental monitoring. It features icebreaking capabilities and a dynamic positioning system for precise operations.
The ZHUHAI YUN, the world’s first intelligent unmanned drone carrier, is designed for oceanographic research but has significant military dual-use potential, including mapping submarine routes and deploying smart mines.
The PCG remains committed to safeguarding the maritime domain and will take all necessary actions to enforce laws and protect national interests.
