Malacañang expresses concern over presence of Chinese ‘monster ship’ in EEZ

Metro Manila, Philippines - Malacañang has expressed concern over the presence of a so-called Chinese "monster ship" in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In a press briefing, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin stated that the Philippine Coast Guard is doing its best to challenge the illegal presence of the China Coast Guard vessel, CG 5901, which has been lingering in waters off Zambales.

“We view with concern. Ganito iyan: So far we have been challenging the presence of that monster ship. Our coast guard has always been very alert in following up on the presence of that monster ship, pasulpot-sulpot and it is within our exclusive economic zone, so tsina-challenge iyan,” said Bersamin.

[Translation: "We view this with concern. Here’s the situation: So far, we have been challenging the presence of that monster ship. Our coast guard has always been very alert in following up on the presence of that ship, appearing sporadically, and it is within our exclusive economic zone, so we are challenging it.]

Bersamin added that there has so far been no confrontation on both sides.

“Mayroon ding counter-challenge iyong coast guard ng China but it all works well in the end kasi nothing confrontational happens. So, maaaring projection ang isyu dito, but I’m not going to say anything more because that’s a matter of operation,” he explained.

[Translation: "The Chinese coast guard is also counter-challenging, but everything works out in the end because no confrontation happens. So, this issue could be a matter of projection, but I won’t say anything further because that’s an operational matter.]

The Palace official went on to explain that the government has two options in responding to the Chinese vessel’s presence.

“The first one is we have always been issuing protests, demarche. They call that demarche; and the other one is there is a permanent apparatus for that, at the vice-ministerial level; every now and then, Beijing and Manila alternate hosting the vice-ministerial level conference,” said Bersamin.

[Translation: "The first option is that we have always been issuing protests, or what they call a 'demarche'; and the second option is that there is a permanent mechanism for this, at the vice-ministerial level. From time to time, Beijing and Manila alternate hosting the vice-ministerial level conference.]

The Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to comment on whether the Philippines will file a formal diplomatic protest over the ship's presence.

The China coast guard vessel, CG 5901, is 541 feet long and has a displacement of 12,000 tons. It is considered one of the largest coast guard ships in the world.

This is not the first time the "monster ship" has entered Philippine waters.