China’s research vessel spotted in oil-rich Recto Bank | ABS-CBN
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China’s research vessel spotted in oil-rich Recto Bank
China’s research vessel spotted in oil-rich Recto Bank
MANILA — A Chinese research vessel has been spotted in the resource-rich Recto Bank (Reed Bank), a independent monitor said Friday, following days of it supposedly exploring reefs and shoals in the west of Palawan.
MANILA — A Chinese research vessel has been spotted in the resource-rich Recto Bank (Reed Bank), a independent monitor said Friday, following days of it supposedly exploring reefs and shoals in the west of Palawan.
Retired U.S. Air force officer Ray Powell, director of maritime transparency initiative SeaLight, said China’s 74-meter-long ship Ke Xue San Hao entered the south part of Recto Bank at 10:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Retired U.S. Air force officer Ray Powell, director of maritime transparency initiative SeaLight, said China’s 74-meter-long ship Ke Xue San Hao entered the south part of Recto Bank at 10:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Recto Bank, also called Reed Bank, is an underwater reef formation that is believed to contain huge reserves of oil and natural gas situated 85 nautical miles from Palawan.
Recto Bank, also called Reed Bank, is an underwater reef formation that is believed to contain huge reserves of oil and natural gas situated 85 nautical miles from Palawan.
While it is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, Manila has not been able to exploit Recto Bank’s resources due to its dispute with Beijing.
While it is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, Manila has not been able to exploit Recto Bank’s resources due to its dispute with Beijing.
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A 2013 report from the United States Energy Information Administration said Reed Bank could hold up to 5.4 billion barrels of oil and 55.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
A 2013 report from the United States Energy Information Administration said Reed Bank could hold up to 5.4 billion barrels of oil and 55.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said Ke Xue San Hao’s presence in the Philippine waters has been dubious as it was observed navigating in a zigzag pattern.
Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said Ke Xue San Hao’s presence in the Philippine waters has been dubious as it was observed navigating in a zigzag pattern.
“A zigzag pattern or track indicates something else,” he said. “’Pag nagsi-zigzag na, may ginagawa kang ibang bagay. Kumbaga sa barangay natin, kapag ang tao paali-aigid, may masamang intensyon iyon. Kung napadaan ka lang, [dapat] tuloy-tuloy ka lang,” he said.
“A zigzag pattern or track indicates something else,” he said. “’Pag nagsi-zigzag na, may ginagawa kang ibang bagay. Kumbaga sa barangay natin, kapag ang tao paali-aigid, may masamang intensyon iyon. Kung napadaan ka lang, [dapat] tuloy-tuloy ka lang,” he said.
(When you are navigating in a zigzag pattern, it means you are doing something else. In our community, if a person is acting erratically, it usually means they have bad intentions. If you're just passing by, you should keep moving straight ahead.)
(When you are navigating in a zigzag pattern, it means you are doing something else. In our community, if a person is acting erratically, it usually means they have bad intentions. If you're just passing by, you should keep moving straight ahead.)
Trinidad said Manila can only monitor the presence of the foreign ships in the West Philippine Sea, but the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Department of Foreign Affairs are now in close coordination with regards to the Chinese research vessel.
Trinidad said Manila can only monitor the presence of the foreign ships in the West Philippine Sea, but the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Department of Foreign Affairs are now in close coordination with regards to the Chinese research vessel.
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“We don’t want to escalate the situation,” he said.
“We don’t want to escalate the situation,” he said.
The Ke Xue San Hao, designed by the Marine Design and Research Institute of China and constructed by Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Co., is equipped with advanced technology that enables comprehensive marine environment observation, detection, sampling, and analysis, according to PCG’s Commodore Jay Tarriela.
The Ke Xue San Hao, designed by the Marine Design and Research Institute of China and constructed by Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Co., is equipped with advanced technology that enables comprehensive marine environment observation, detection, sampling, and analysis, according to PCG’s Commodore Jay Tarriela.
The same vessel conducted surveys in the resource-rich Philippine Rise in several previous instances.
The same vessel conducted surveys in the resource-rich Philippine Rise in several previous instances.
Earlier monitoring data indicates that the vessel departed from China’s military base in Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef) on July 26 and has since passed through several critical locations, including Ayungin Shoal, Raja Soliman Shoal, Bulig Shoal, Hasa-Hasa Shoal, Abad Santos Shoal, and Escoda Shoal.
Earlier monitoring data indicates that the vessel departed from China’s military base in Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef) on July 26 and has since passed through several critical locations, including Ayungin Shoal, Raja Soliman Shoal, Bulig Shoal, Hasa-Hasa Shoal, Abad Santos Shoal, and Escoda Shoal.
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