THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) immediately deployed two sea vessels and an aircraft to intercept two Chinese ships spotted in the waters off Bolinao in Pangasinan within the country’s defined exclusive economic zone (EEZ) last weekend.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said their two 44-meter vessels, BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) and BRP Bagacay (MRRV-4410), as well as an island aircraft, were dispatched to the area after the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels 3301 and 3104 were detected entering Philippine territory.

As of Tuesday, February 4, the PCG said the foreign ships were already spotted about near China’s Guangdong Province.

The PCG vessels informed the CCG that their presence in the area was illegal and reiterated the government’s position against the normalization of illegal patrols within the Philippines’ EEZ.

However, the PCG’s radio challenges went ignored.

This was not the first time that Chinese vessels were spotted near the Philippine coast, but it was reportedly the closest they had positioned.

Both ships were earlier spotted in the coast of Occidental Mindoro before heading to Pangasinan.

The Philippines has been beefing up patrols as well as foreign alliances amid China’s growing aggressive maneuvers and rising tensions in the disputed waters. (Ahikam Pasion)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments