THE PHILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG) deployed its biggest vessel and an aircraft on Thursday to stop a Chinese research ship allegedly conducting unauthorized marine scientific research (MSR) within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Batanes province near Taiwan.
A Chinese Coast Guard vessel also intervened, PCG spokesman Jay Tristan Tarriela said in a Facebook post.
BRP Teresa Magbanua approached the Chinese research vessel JIA HAI KE 7 at about 7:55 a.m. and deployed a rigid-hull inflatable boat to disrupt its activities and compel it to leave the area, he said.
JIA HAI KE 7 had been operating about 37 nautical miles (68.5 kilometers) northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, since the PCG confirmed its presence on Sept. 28.
Support authors and subscribe to content
This is premium stuff. Subscribe to read the entire article.
