The China Coast Guard’s (CCG) massive vessel 5901, known as the “monster ship,” has returned to the waters near Bajo de Masinloc, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed Friday. FILE PHOTO
GMA NETWORK | Published February 7, 2025
The China Coast Guard’s (CCG) massive vessel 5901, known as the “monster ship,” has returned to the waters near Bajo de Masinloc, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed Friday.
PCG West Philippine Sea (WPS) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela reported that two CCG vessels were spotted in Bajo de Masinloc, while three others remained off the Zambales coast.
“Well, right now, nag-swap ulit si CCG 3304 and CCG 5901. CCG 5901 is once again back in the vicinity of Bajo De Masinloc at a distance of 120 nautical miles,” Tarriela said.
“CCG 3304 is the one trying to replace 5901 as it maintained [China’s] illegal presence off the coast of Zambales at a distance of 105 nautical miles.”
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. acknowledged Thursday that the Philippines could not force China’s massive vessel out of its waters.
”Well, we don’t have the means na paalisin. Hindi naman – buti kung mayroon tayong aircraft carrier na may kasamang destroyer, frigate, at saka submarine na papupuntahin natin doon para matulak silang palayo. Wala naman tayong ganoon,” Marcos said.
(We don’t have the means to expel them. If we had an aircraft carrier with destroyers, frigates, and submarines, we could push them away—but we don’t.)
He emphasized that while the Philippines lags behind China in fleet size and strength, the country will continue defending its territorial rights in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Despite the challenge, Tarriela said the PCG has been actively confronting Chinese vessels.
“I don’t think that the President is saying that we cannot do it. As what we saw in the past days since January 4, the PCG vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua has vigilantly challenged and driven away the CCG monster ship from 54 nautical miles, now to as far as 110 to 120 nautical miles,” he said.
Tarriela noted that Marcos had approved the acquisition of five more 97-meter vessels from Japan and 40 additional vessels from France to strengthen the PCG.
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SOURCE: www.gmanetwork.com
RELATED: Marcos: Philippines can’t drive off China ships but won’t stop patrols
President Marcos walks with Navy chief Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr. and Naval Special Operations Command chief Commodore Dwight Steven Dulnoan as he inspects the Naval Base Heracleo Alano in Sangley Point, Cavite during the 67th anniversary celebration of the NAVSOCOM yesterday. Marcos witnessed a capability demonstration of the command’s various units, including an anti-terror operations team (left inset) and frogmen in adverse conditions.
THE PHILIPPINE STAR | Published February 7, 2025
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. acknowledged on Thursday, February 6, that the Philippines lacks the naval capability to drive away China’s largest coast guard vessel from its waters, but maintained that Philippines forces will continue to challenge all intrusions in the West Philippine Sea.
“We don’t have the means na paalisin. Buti kung meron tayong aircraft carrier na kasamang destroyer, frigate, at submarine na papupuntahin natin doon para matulak sila palayo. Wala tayong ganoon,” Marcos said at a press conference.
(We don’t have the means to make them leave. But if we had an aircraft carrier with a destroyer, frigate, and submarine that we could send there to push them back, we don’t have that.)
The president was referring to the continued presence of the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901, dubbed the “monster” for being the world’s largest coast guard vessel. The 165-meter vessel has been part of a rotating fleet of Chinese ships continuously prowling the waters off Zambales since January 4.
Despite the military disadvantage, Marcos maintained the Philippines will continue to defend its sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“Kung sa palakihan at paramihan ng barko, malayo tayo sa China. Pero ang policy natin is we will continue to defend our sovereign territory and our terrirotial rights in the EEZ,” Marcos said.
(If it’s about the size and number of ships, we are far behind China. But our policy is we will continue to defend our sovereign territory and our terrirotial rights in the EEZ.)
“When we detect the presence of a foreign vessel intruding into our coastal waters, we will deploy our ships, challenge them, and make sure they know what they are doing is illegal,” he added.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has been mounting daily challenges against the Chinese vessels, including through its flagship BRP Teresa Magbanua. In confrontations captured on video, Philippine forces are heard repeatedly warning the Chinese ships that they are violating the 2016 arbitral ruling that nullified Beijing’s sweeping claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, along with the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and UNCLOS.
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SOURCE: www.philstar.com
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