THE PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER | Published December 29, 2024
MANILA, Philippines — A United States Naval Ship (USNS) was spotted near the country’s landmass while China Coast Guard (CCG) was conducting what it considers as a patrol around Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal on Sunday morning, a West Philippine Sea monitor said.
As of 1:37 a.m., the USNS Victorious was located near the Luzon landmass but still outside the country’s 12-nautical-mile territorial sea during China’s “patrol,” previously reported by its state media CCTV, according to SeaLight director and retired US Air Force Colonel Ray Powell.
The Chinese fleet also consisted of three large CCG ships and six militia vessels, he said.
“The three CCG ships have been there for a while,” he said over X. “The six militia just arrived Christmas night.”
However, Powell quickly noted that he could not say if there were naval ships from the US and China during their respective activities since warships typically — and could legally — turn off their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS).
“I can’t track PLA (People’s Liberation Army) Navy ships though, since they don’t broadcast AIS signals,” Powell said. “I can’t track US Navy ships either.”
“I can track the Victorious because it’s Military Sealift Command (technically civilian) and does broadcast AIS,” he also pointed out.
USNS ships like Victorious are non-commissioned ships that belong to the United States Navy.
Beijing’s patrol is based on its assertion of sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, or the western section of the country inside its 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
READ FULL ARTICLE
SOURCE: www.inquirer.net
RELATED: US Navy ship spotted near Scarborough today!
REELTALK RADAR | Published December 29, 2024
MANILA, Philippines — On Sunday morning, a U.S. Navy ship was observed near the Philippine territory as the China Coast Guard conducted a patrol around Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, according to a West Philippine Sea monitoring group.
At 1:37 a.m., the USNS Victorious was positioned near the Luzon landmass, yet still beyond the Philippines’ 12-nautical-mile territorial sea, as China conducted its “patrol,” which had been earlier reported by its state media, CCTV, according to SeaLight director and retired US Air Force Colonel Ray Powell.
The China Coast Guard Patrol
As of December 29, 2024, there have been no new developments reported concerning Scarborough Shoal. The latest notable event occurred on December 27, 2024, when the China Coast Guard conducted patrols around the shoal, asserting China’s territorial claims, as covered by state-run CCTV.
Earlier, on December 4, 2024, Chinese coast guard vessels were reported to have fired water cannons and sideswiped a Philippine patrol ship near Scarborough Shoal.
These incidents underscore the ongoing maritime tensions in the South China Sea, particularly over the territorial disputes surrounding Scarborough Shoal, which continue to provoke regular confrontations between Chinese and Philippine maritime forces.
The Role of the West Philippine Sea Monitoring Group
The West Philippine Sea Monitoring Group is a collaborative effort dedicated to observing and reporting on maritime activities in the West Philippine Sea, with particular focus on areas like Scarborough Shoal. This group plays an essential role in promoting transparency and ensuring timely updates on developments in the region.
Colonel Ray Powell, a retired U.S. Air Force officer and the current director of SeaLight, has been instrumental in analyzing and sharing information about maritime activities in the West Philippine Sea. His expertise has been crucial in tracking the movement of foreign vessels, including U.S. Navy ships.
On December 29, 2024, Powell reported the location of the USNS Victorious, which was observed near the Luzon landmass but still outside the Philippines’ 12-nautical-mile territorial waters amid Chinese patrols, as highlighted by CCTV. Powell emphasized that the ship’s presence was “not too unusual,” noting it had been in the same area as recently as September.
READ FULL ARTICLE
SOURCE: www.reeltalkradar.com
