MANILA, Philippines — Two China-flagged vessels are conducting intrusive patrols within Manila Bay and Palawan, both inside the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, defense and maritime security official Ray Powell said.
“China’s intrusive patrol continues with China Coast Guard 3301 cruising outside Manila Bay this morning,” Powell, Director of SeaLight and a former US Air Force official, said in an X (formerly Twitter) post on Thursday.
He noted that another CCG ship, bow number 3105, has been “AIS-dark since July 22.” The automatic identification system, or AIS, is essential for large vessels to ensure safety and security.
In a separate post, Commodore Jay Tarriela, WPS spokesman, has confirmed the presence of the two CCG vessels in the region.
“Earlier today, the Philippine Coast Guard, using Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection technology, detected the Shucha II-class China Coast Guard Vessel 3301 traveling at a speed of nine knots approximately 62.08 nautical miles west of Capones Island, Zambales,” Tarriela said.
CCGV 3301 departed from Bajo de Masinloc on July 21, 2024, and made its way to El Nido, Palawan, where it met up with the Zhaotim-class CCGV 3105. On July 23, 2024, it shifted to the northeast of Recto Bank, staying there for over a day before moving to its current location.
He likewise said that the CCGV 3105 has been experiencing irregular AIS transmissions since July 22, showing little movement and remaining 64.5 nautical miles away from Tapiutan town in El Nido, Palawan.
The intrusive patrolling of Chinese vessels within the country’s maritime areas has been ongoing for decades and despite the arbitral ruling saying the disputed South China Sea now known as the West Philippine Sea is an exclusive maritime territory of the Philippines, China has been dismissing the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling and continues to harass Filipino fishermen.
