Yesterday, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, together with the Philippine Coast Guard, conducted a routine Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight and documented the Chinese Research Vessel YUE ZHAN YU KE 6 dismantling the floating platform and loading it onto her stern. Throughout the flight, the aircraft consistently challenged the vessel’s illegal Marine Scientific Research (MSR) activities.
Today, the Philippine Coast Guard once again conducted an MDA flight using its PCG Cessna Caravan aircraft. It was noted that the platform is no longer present in the shoal, and the Chinese Research Vessel YUE ZHAN YU KE 6 — which towed the platform last Monday and loaded its dismantled components yesterday — is no longer in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc. Remaining inside the shoal was the other, smaller research vessel, YUE XIA YU ZHI 20028.
