By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – The Philippine government continues to monitor a Chinese research vessel to make sure that it would not be able to conduct a maritime survey in the Philippine waters, the National Security Council (NSC) said Thursday.
This was after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed the deployment of its aircraft on Wednesday morning to challenge the presence of Chinese research vessel “Song Hang,” which was seen 58 nautical miles east of Aborlan, Palawan.
In a Palace press briefing, National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said the Chinese vessel was approximately 48.65 nautical miles northeast of Tambisan Island in Sabah, Malaysia, as of 7:30 a.m. Thursday.
“It is currently outside the archipelagic waters of the Philippines, if I understand it correctly,” Malaya said. “The Coast Guard is continuing maritime patrol of this vessel to ensure that it keeps to its track and it does not conduct maritime survey inside our waters.”
Malaya said that while foreign vessels are entitled to innocent passage under international law, they are not allowed to conduct maritime survey in the Philippine waters.
He said BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) is currently shadowing the Chinese research vessel.
“Because although ships have right of innocent passage, no foreign vessel can conduct maritime survey in our waters,” Malaya said.
“So, the Philippine Coast Guard is being vigilant. They are continuously doing maritime patrol to ensure that this does not happen.” (PNA)
