The Philippines has expressed grave concern over China’s deployment of its largest coast guard vessel within Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), describing the move as alarming and intended to intimidate local fishermen operating near a contested shoal in the South China Sea.
“We were surprised by the increasing aggression displayed by the People’s Republic of China with the deployment of this massive ship,” said National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya during a press conference on Tuesday. The 165-meter-long Chinese coast guard vessel, identified as ship 5901, was spotted 77 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales province. In response, the Philippines has lodged a formal protest and demanded its immediate withdrawal from the EEZ.
Malaya characterized the vessel’s presence as an “escalation and provocative,” labeling it both “illegal” and “unacceptable.” In a show of resolve, the Philippine Coast Guard has dispatched two of its largest vessels to confront and drive away the Chinese ship.
In contrast, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun defended the coast guard’s actions, stating that their “patrol and law enforcement activities” were “reasonable, lawful, and beyond reproach.”
The situation reflects the heightened tensions between the Philippines, a treaty ally of the United States, and Beijing, which have intensified over the past two years due to overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea. An international tribunal ruling in 2016 dismissed China’s extensive claims over the disputed waters as baseless, a decision that Beijing has consistently rejected.
China’s expansive territorial assertions encroach upon the EEZs of several nations, including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. This vital waterway serves as a crucial shipping route for approximately $3 trillion in annual commerce, underscoring the economic stakes involved in these escalating disputes.
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