2 China vessels exit EEZ after closest-ever approach to mainland

February 4, 2025 | 12:26pm

MANILA, Philippines — Two Chinese Coast Guard vessels that ventured up to 34 nautical miles from the coast of Bolinao, Pangasinan have departed the country's waters Tuesday morning, February 4 — one of the closest recorded approaches by China's vessels to the Philippine mainland.

Data from Canada's dark vessel detection system show CCG vessels 3301 and 3104 had retreated to positions 61 and 81 nautical miles from China's Guangdong Province by 7 a.m., according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The PCG vessel BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) shadowed and challenged the Chinese vessels throughout their presence in Philippine waters Monday, asserting violations of the Philippines' Maritime Zones Act, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the 2016 arbitral award. 

"The Philippine Coast Guard remains unwavering in its commitment to uphold the nation’s maritime rights and safeguard national interests in the West Philippine Sea, ensuring a vigilant approach without escalating tensions," PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a statement.

Tarriela earlier reported the vessels were first spotted some 34 nautical miles from Bolinao, Pangasinan on Sunday. The two vessels were then spotted some 70 to 75 nautical miles from Luna, La Union, on Monday, prompting the PCG to deploy BRP Cabra and Bagacay to challenge their presence. 

Tarriela said the CCG vessels' presence near Pangasinan was the closest distance made by an intruding Chinese ship to Philippines' shores. 

Unlike China's usual maritime presence farther west in the South China Sea — where its vessels frequently operate near the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal — these CCG ships ventured unusually close to populated coastal communities in northern Luzon.

Monster ship is still here. Another much larger CCG vessel — CCG 5901 or the so-called "monster" ship — was last spotted 117 nautical miles from the shores of Zambales as of Sunday evening, according to the PCG. 

The PCG's flagship vessel, the 97-meter BRP Teresa Magbanua, was deployed to challenge the presence of 165-meter CCG 5901.  

RELATED: China Coast Guard presence near Zambales reaches a month 

During radio exchanges, the Chinese vessel insisted it was "performing law enforcement duties on the jurisdictional waters of the People's Republic of China in accordance with law," broadcasting the message in English and Chinese.

The CCG vessel also declared that "the Arbitral Award for the South China Sea arbitration is illegal and invalid" and that "China neither accepts nor recognizes it."

China has consistently rejected the landmark 2016 arbitral ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which invalidated Beijing's expansive claims over most of the South China Sea. The ruling affirmed the Philippines' sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone, including waters within the West Philippine Sea.

Despite the ruling, Chinese vessels have maintained an increasingly aggressive presence in Philippine waters, with the coast guard and maritime militia vessels frequently conducting patrols, blocking Filipino fishing boats, and shadowing Philippine vessels.