PCG tracks Chinese research ship near Escoda Shoal | ABS-CBN
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PCG tracks Chinese research ship near Escoda Shoal
PCG tracks Chinese research ship near Escoda Shoal
MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is monitoring a Chinese research vessel that has been navigating through hotspots in the West Philippine Sea, it said Saturday..
MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is monitoring a Chinese research vessel that has been navigating through hotspots in the West Philippine Sea, it said Saturday..
Commo. Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea, said China’s multi-purpose oceanographic research vessel Ke Xue San Hao was north of Escoda Shoal, internationally called Sabina Shoal, as of Saturday afternoon.
Commo. Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea, said China’s multi-purpose oceanographic research vessel Ke Xue San Hao was north of Escoda Shoal, internationally called Sabina Shoal, as of Saturday afternoon.
The vessel has exhibited irregular Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmissions, but was detected by the Philippines using its dark vessel detection program.
The vessel has exhibited irregular Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmissions, but was detected by the Philippines using its dark vessel detection program.
PCG’s multi-role response vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua issued radio challenges and tracked the foreign vessel since it passed dead astern of the Philippine ship approximately 5.5 nautical miles, according to Tarriela.
PCG’s multi-role response vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua issued radio challenges and tracked the foreign vessel since it passed dead astern of the Philippine ship approximately 5.5 nautical miles, according to Tarriela.
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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 eventually reached Escoda Shoal.
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 eventually reached Escoda Shoal.
Ray Powell of South China Sea monitor SeaLight also monitored the movement of Ke Xue San Hao.
Ray Powell of South China Sea monitor SeaLight also monitored the movement of Ke Xue San Hao.
“China’s research vessel Ke Xue San Hao has been surveying the areas south and east of Sabina Shoal since 25 July, yesterday coming within 40 [nautical miles] of the Philippines' island of Palawan,” he said in a tweet on Saturday.
“China’s research vessel Ke Xue San Hao has been surveying the areas south and east of Sabina Shoal since 25 July, yesterday coming within 40 [nautical miles] of the Philippines' island of Palawan,” he said in a tweet on Saturday.
There are several significant maritime features in the surveyed area, including First Thomas Shoal, Half Moon Shoal, Bombay Shoal, Royal Captain Shoal, Northeast Investigator Shoal and Boxall Reef, according to Powell.
There are several significant maritime features in the surveyed area, including First Thomas Shoal, Half Moon Shoal, Bombay Shoal, Royal Captain Shoal, Northeast Investigator Shoal and Boxall Reef, according to Powell.
The Philippines has maintained its presence at Escoda Shoal, through the BRP Teresa Magbanua, since April following the discovery of a supposed reclamation attempt by China.
The Philippines has maintained its presence at Escoda Shoal, through the BRP Teresa Magbanua, since April following the discovery of a supposed reclamation attempt by China.
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 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 Tarriela.
It was the same vessel also conducted surveys in the resource-rich Philippine Rise in the past.
It was the same vessel also conducted surveys in the resource-rich Philippine Rise in the past.
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