MANILA – China Coast Guard’s “monster ship” inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) aims to intimidate Filipino fishermen.
According to Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Chinese wants to stop the fishermen from fishing at the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc.
“They want to legitimize their presence sa vicinity ng Bajo de Masinloc. I think this also threatens ating mangingisdang Pilipino para hindi sila mapakapangisda sa area ng Bajo de Masinloc,” Tarriela said in an interview with DZBB.
The monster ship was first spotted 54 nautical miles away from Capones Island, Zambales, or within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ), on Saturday.
In response, the PCG deployed BRP Cabra, a helicopter, and the PCG Caravan to check the Chinese ship. The PCG challenged the presence of the CCG by asserting that the vessel was inside the Philippine EEZ.
Tarriela stated that the “monster ship” moved near Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro on Monday morning.
“Two days ago, na-monitor natin siya sa coastline ng Zambales, sa Capones Island, Zambales. Yesterday, umangat na siya sa northern part ng Zambales. Ngayong umaga, as we speak, it is 80 nautical miles away from Lubang Island, Occidental Mindoro,” Tarriela said.
The same ship was spotted last June 2024 near the BRP Sierra Madre in the Ayungin Shoal.
Compared to the 2,265-ton displacement of the BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Melchora Aquino, the largest ships in the PCG inventory, China’s “monster ship” is five times larger at 12,000 tons and is considered the largest coast guard ship in the world./PN
