MANILA, Philippines – Sinabi ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) noong Linggo, Agosto 3, na nagpadala sila ng sasakyang panghimpapawid upang subaybayan at hamunin ang isang Chinese research vessel na namataan malapit sa Cagayan.
Sa isang pahayag, iniutos ni Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, PCG Commandant ang deployment ng isang PCG aircraft para magsagawa ng Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) patrol noong Sabado bilang tugon sa presensya ng Xiang Yang Hong 05, na natunton humigit-kumulang 37 nautical miles sa baybayin ng Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
“The PCG aircraft successfully conducted its MDA flight yesterday afternoon and physically sighted the Xiang Yang Hong 05 at a distance of 14.92 nautical miles from Babuyan Island,” ayon sa PCG.
Nagbigay ng hamon ang sasakyang panghimpapawid ng PCG sa barko ng China na hindi naman tumugon.
“The Xiang Yang Hong 05 left Guangdong, China, on June 5, 2025, en route to the West Philippine Sea. It entered the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone on June 7, approximately 130 nautical miles from Burgos, Ilocos Norte, and subsequently left on June 9, only to re-enter the EEZ last July 31,” anila.
Ayon sa PCG, ang barko ng Tsina “conducted substantial marine scientific research for almost 22 days after departing the Philippine EEZ and before re-entering. This research occurred along a parallel track in the Pacific Ocean, close to Guam at a distance of 42 nautical miles. As of this morning, the vessel was monitored via Automatic Identification System (AIS) approximately 86 nautical miles from Calayan Island, Cagayan.”
Sinabi ng PCG na ang Xiang Yang Hong 05 ay isang research vessel na na-convert mula sa isang cargo ship at na-deploy sa mga sensitibong maritime zone upang suportahan ang mga operasyon ng People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
Saad nila na ang PCG “remains committed to monitoring and protecting the nation’s maritime jurisdiction, ensuring the safety and security of its waters against foreign vessels engaged in unauthorized and illegal maritime activities.” RNT/MND
