Coast Guard aircraft challenges Chinese research vessel off Cagayan

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) aircraft challenged a Chinese research vessel operating off the coast of Sta. Ana, Cagayan, after it was monitored within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

In a statement, the PCG said its aircraft conducted a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) patrol on Saturday, August 2, during which it located the Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 05.

According to the PCG, the vessel was sighted approximately 14.92 nautical miles from Babuyan Island. When challenged by the Coast Guard aircraft, it did not respond.

Tracking the vessel. The PCG said the vessel initially departed Guangdong province, China, on June 5, headed for the West Philippine Sea.

It entered the Philippine EEZ on June 7, about 130 nautical miles from Burgos, Ilocos Norte, and exited on June 9.

Between its two entries into the Philippine EEZ, the Coast Guard said the vessel conducted extensive marine scientific research for nearly 22 days along a parallel track in the Pacific Ocean, approaching as close as 42 nautical miles from Guam before re-entering the Philippine EEZ on July 31.

As of Sunday morning, the Xiang Yang Hong 05 was tracked via the Automatic Identification System (AIS) about 86 nautical miles from Calayan Island, Cagayan.

What is the Xiang Yang Hong.According to the PCG, the Xiang Yang Hong 05, a relatively new vessel converted from a cargo ship, has raised concerns among neighboring countries due to its activities in sensitive maritime zones.

The vessel has historically been linked to supporting People’s Liberation Army Navy operations, tracing back to earlier ships involved in distant-water research and ballistic missile trials during the 1970s and 1980s.