CCG “THE MONSTER” INTRUSIVE PATROL INSIDE PH EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE

One of the largest ships of the China Coast Guard was spotted in the western part of Panatag Shoal which is covered by the territory of the Philippines. According to the maritime security expert Ray Powell, based on the automatic identification system, the largest CCG ship with body number 5901 known as “The Monster” was spotted in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the country.

Along with another 102-meter CCG vessel, it also appears that the China Coast Guard conducted patrols in the EEZ of various countries.

China’s biggest Coast Guard vessel spotted on WPS (Photo courtesy of Ray Powell/Philippine Star)

“Over the past 24 hours the world's largest coast guard ship, the 165-meter China Coast Guard 5901, together with the 102-meter CCG 5203, conducted a brief intrusive patrol into the Philippines' EEZ west of Scarborough Shoal,” Powell said in a post.

Powell stated that in order to create a constant presence and progressively normalize Chinese sovereignty over territories granted to its neighbors by international law, China usually undertakes "intrusive patrols deep within the EEZ of neighboring countries."

Philippine Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad emphasized that the National Task Force (NTF) on WPS will determine the best course of action moving forward; “It’s a Chinese Coast Guard ship and there will be appropriate response from the NTF, coast guard, Philippine Coast Guard.”

Meanwhile, some fishermen in Zambales who can no longer go to the mid sea because of China's order to arrest those who enter its border, appealed for help from the government. In the consultation of the House committee on national defense security and the special committee on the West Philippine Sea in Masinloc Zambales, Filipino fishermen said that they are also being bombarded by Chinese canon water.

Some of them also had the experience of being taken forcedly their catch by the Chinese. The fishermen admitted that they are concerned about China's order to arrest illegals entering their territory starting June 15.

“Sino tutulong sa amin? Kapag eleksyon kailangan kami, pagdating sa problema hindi niyo kami kilala? Paano? Ito diretsahan, hirap na hirap na kami. Hindi sapat ang ayuda, malayang pangingisda lang ang kailangan naming, maraming salamat,” one of the fishermen said.

Source: GMA Integrated News

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