Drilling-capable Chinese ship spends 25 days in Philippine EEZ
A Chinese drilling-capable survey ship spent 25 days within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone without authorization. The Philippine Coast Guard tracked the vessel, noting its presence near Scarborough Shoal and its history of similar activities in Indonesian waters.
Why it matters
This incident underscores ongoing tensions in the South China Sea regarding maritime sovereignty and the enforcement of international maritime law.
MANILA, Philippines - A Chinese survey ship that can drill into the seabed has spent 25 days meandering inside the Philippine exclusive economic zone, including the territorial sea of Scarborough Shoal, without permit, the Philippine Coast Guard said on Friday, September 4.
Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed it has not issued a permit for the vessel to conduct scientific research.
"She is not an ordinary research ship. Operated by the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey under China's Ministry of Natural Resources, she is drilling-capable," Tarriela said.
The vessel, the 76-meter Haiyang Dizhi Shihao, entered the Philippines' EEZ near-midnight on August 10, based on the satellite tracking shared by Tarriela.
It spent three weeks inside the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea of Scarborough Shoal, Tarriela said.
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