Philippines raises alarm over ‘monster’ Chinese vessel near its waters
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Philippines deployed a patrol vessel for ‘diligently tailing and shadowing’ China’s ‘monster’ vessel. The Philippines mobilised its air and sea assets in its economic exclusive zone after accusing China of intimidation with the deployment of a “monster” Chinese coast guard vessel.
Manila raised an alarm over China’s deployment of the 12,000-ton patrol vessel, CCG-5901, which was first spotted off the coast of Capones Island in the western province of Zambales on Saturday. With a length of 541ft, the CCG-5901 is three times the size of the US coast guard’s main patrol vessels, the National Security Cutter, and is armed with anti-aircraft guns and fuel storage capacities making it suitable it to undertake extended missions.
Philippine coast guard spokesman Jay Tarriela said its patrol vessel BRP Cabra is “maintaining its vigilant monitoring of the illegal presence of the China coast guard vessel CCG-5901 within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for the third consecutive day”.
Its “erratic movements indicate it is not engaged in innocent passage but rather asserts that it is conducting a law enforcement operation, claiming jurisdiction over these waters as belonging to the People’s Republic of China”. Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson for the National Security Council, told state television on Monday: "We have all our assets pointed at this monster ship. The moment it (carries out) any provocative action, it will be met with appropriate response”.
