Tensions in the South China Sea: Philippines sends ships and aircraft to block Chinese vessel

The Philippine Coast Guard said on Thursday it had dispatched its largest ship and an aircraft to challenge a Chinese research vessel operating in the northern province of Batanes, near Taiwan, adding that a Chinese coast guard ship was also at the scene.

The Philippine operation “disrupted the vessel’s unauthorized marine scientific research and forced it to leave its loitering position,” said Jay Tarriela, the coast guard’s spokesman for South China Sea affairs.

The Philippine Coast Guard said the 97-meter BRP Teresa Magbanua and an aircraft were deployed against the Chinese vessel, which it said had remained about 37 nautical miles northwest of Itbayat Island since September 28.

The Chinese vessel JIA HAI KE 7 is the same Chinese-flagged survey ship that the coast guard said was spoofing its location while loitering near Batanes.

The PCG said the Teresa Magbanua approached to within 100 yards of the JIA HAI KE 7 and launched a rigid-hulled inflatable boat that circled the research vessel several times while personnel issued radio challenges.

The coast guard said the research vessel maneuvered repeatedly to evade the Philippine ships during the operation.

A China Coast Guard ship then arrived to protect the research vessel and issued its own radio challenges to the Philippine ship.

The PCG said the involvement of a China Coast Guard ship was “significant” because the JIA HAI KE 7 is privately owned, raising questions about its links to the Chinese government and the purpose of the data it may have collected near undersea cable corridors around Batanes and the Luzon Strait.

The coast guard said the operation was ongoing but had forced the JIA HAI KE 7 to leave its loitering position, with the Teresa Magbanua continuing to monitor the vessel to ensure it exited the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

The Chinese embassy in Manila said the research vessel was “conducting normal operations in waters under China’s jurisdiction” and accused the Philippines of harassment. It urged Manila to stop interfering with Beijing’s scientific research activities.