PCG suspects Chinese ship deployed instrument off Batanes
MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese research vessel may have deployed an instrument while conducting an unauthorized marine scientific research off Batanes, an official of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Saturday.
Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea, said authorities made this assessment after monitoring Chinese research vessel Jia Hai Ke 7 as it remained stationary about 69 kilometers northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, for nearly three days last week.
“We suspect that she also dropped some instrument to carry out an illegal MSR (marine scientific research),” Tarriela said at a news forum in Quezon City.
READ: Chinese research vessel passes through PH waters – monitor
Tarriela did not specify what kind of instrument the Chinese vessel may have deployed. The PCG also did not say that it directly observed or recovered any equipment from the water.
He said foreign vessels may exercise freedom of navigation through the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), but noted that Jia Hai Ke 7 had been stationary instead of making continuous passage through the area.
READ: WPS: New Chinese research ship spotted near Panatag after platform removal
Taiwan vessels
Tarriela said marine scientific research could involve collecting information about the seabed and sediments, tides and currents, and aquatic resources.
He also reiterated that Jia Hai Ke 7 has the capability to locate subsea cables, which he described as critical infrastructure supporting telecommunications, banking and other forms of connectivity.
But Tarriela cautioned against linking the Chinese vessel’s activities to internet connectivity problems reported in Metro Manila and parts of Central Luzon.
“I don’t think so. That will still be speculative,” he said. “We don’t see any connection.”
While damage to subsea cables could disrupt connectivity, Tarriela said there was no basis at present to attribute the reported weakening of internet signals to the Chinese vessel.
Three Taiwan Coast Guard vessels were later monitored in the area as the Chinese research vessel and its China Coast Guard escorts approached the EEZ boundary.
Tarriela reiterated Saturday there wasn’t “any coordination whatsoever” between the Philippine and Taiwan coast guards, adding that the Taiwanese vessels may have been monitoring the movements of the Philippine ship through its Automatic Identification System data.
The PCG first monitored Jia Hai Ke 7 off Batanes on Sept. 28 and deployed an aircraft to challenge what it suspected was an unauthorized marine scientific research.
The BRP Teresa Magbanua later arrived in the area and deployed a rigid-hull inflatable boat that maneuvered around the Chinese vessel to interfere with its suspected research activities.
Tarriela said marine scientific research relies in part on acoustic soundings and that noise generated by the PCG vessels could disrupt such operations.
Jia Hai Ke 7 eventually left its position off Itbayat and proceeded toward the outer limit of the Philippine EEZ.
Tarriela also questioned whether Beijing had changed its position on Batanes after the Chinese Embassy asserted that China has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over waters where Jia Hai Ke 7 had operated.
“I want the media to interview Ambassador Jing and ask whether China’s position has really changed,” Tarriela said, referring to Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan.
He noted that the Chinese Embassy had earlier distanced itself from claims by Chinese scholars involving Batanes but was now asserting jurisdiction over waters off the province.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday rejected Beijing’s assertion and maintained that the waters where Jia Hai Ke 7 operated were within the Philippine EEZ.
“The Department firmly and strongly rejects the Chinese Embassy’s assertion that China has sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the waters off Batanes,” the DFA said.
The Chinese Embassy had maintained that Jia Hai Ke 7 was conducting normal operations in waters where Beijing claims sovereign rights and jurisdiction and accused the Philippines of illegally disrupting the vessel’s activities.
Tarriela said the Philippine position on Batanes was clear. “Batanes has always been part of the Philippine archipelago,” he said, noting that the Philippines exercises effective control over the province. INQ
The post PCG suspects Chinese ship deployed instrument off Batanes appeared first on Inquirer.net.