The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) deployed one of its patrol vessels to challenge a Chinese Coast Guard ship operating within waters off Zambales, in the latest maritime encounter in the West Philippine Sea.
PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said the BRP Malabrigo conducted repeated radio challenges against China Coast Guard vessel CCG-5304 after it was monitored operating inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
As of Sunday, the PCG said the Chinese vessel had not responded to multiple communications from the Philippine side.
A broadcast issued from the PCG vessel ordered the foreign ship to cease activities within the EEZ, asserting that it had no legal authority to conduct patrol operations in the area.
The encounter was supported by aerial monitoring, with a PCG aircraft conducting overflights near the Chinese vessel, which was located around 45 nautical miles west of Iba, Zambales.
According to PCG tracking data, CCG-5304 has been operating in waters off northern Luzon since mid-June, with movements spanning areas off Zambales, Ilocos Sur, and nearby offshore zones.
At its closest point, the vessel was reported to have approached within roughly 27 nautical miles of Burgos, Ilocos Sur. At its southernmost track, it was observed near waters off Capones Island in Zambales.
As of the latest monitoring, the ship was positioned around 43 nautical miles west of Cabangan, Zambales.
Maritime authorities described the vessel’s pattern of movement as consistent with patrol activity along the limits of China’s expansive maritime claims in the region, which were invalidated under the 2016 arbitral ruling.
The PCG reiterated that it will continue regular patrols and maintain presence in the area to assert maritime rights and support Filipino fishers operating within the country’s EEZ.