PCG Challenges Chinese Research Vessel Off Northern Philippines

By WPS News Staff

Unauthorized Activity Detected Near Cagayan

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed that it challenged a Chinese research vessel operating without authorization near the northern Philippine province of Cagayan, reinforcing ongoing concerns over maritime activity inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea.

According to official statements and media reporting, the Chinese research vessel Tan Suo Er Hao was detected approximately 19 nautical miles off the coast of Cagayan on December 30, 2025. The PCG deployed an aircraft to visually identify the vessel and issued repeated radio challenges seeking clarification on its activities and legal authority to operate in the area.

Radio Challenges Go Unanswered

PCG officials stated that the vessel did not respond to radio communications. The lack of response raised immediate concerns, as marine scientific research within the Philippine EEZ requires prior consent under international law. The PCG documented the encounter through aerial surveillance imagery and continued monitoring the vessel as it moved farther offshore.

Subsequent tracking showed the Chinese vessel operating roughly 55 nautical miles from Santa Ana, Cagayan, still within waters subject to Philippine sovereign rights. Philippine authorities emphasized that the issue was not freedom of navigation, but unauthorized research activity, which carries implications for resource mapping, seabed data collection, and military intelligence.

China Disputes Philippine Account

China’s embassy in Manila rejected the Philippine characterization of events, asserting that the research ship was conducting “normal” scientific operations. Beijing maintains that such activities are lawful, consistent with its long-standing claims in the South China Sea—claims that were invalidated by the 2016 arbitral ruling in favor of the Philippines.

Philippine officials reiterated that the ruling remains legally binding and that any foreign research activity within the country’s EEZ requires explicit permission. The PCG framed the interception as part of routine maritime domain awareness operations, not an escalation.

A Familiar Pattern in the West Philippine Sea

While no collision or direct confrontation occurred, the incident fits a broader pattern of sustained Chinese maritime pressure across Philippine-claimed waters. Over the past several years, Philippine authorities have documented repeated instances of Chinese coast guard, maritime militia, and research vessels operating near Philippine territory without authorization.

This case underscores the increasingly technical nature of maritime disputes, where research vessels and survey ships play a central role in asserting presence and gathering strategic data. For the Philippines, continued surveillance and documentation remain key tools in defending maritime rights amid persistent gray-zone activity.

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References (APA)

Reuters. (2025, December 31). Philippines challenges Chinese research vessel operating near Cagayan.
Manila Standard. (2025, December 31). PCG flags unauthorized Chinese marine research off Cagayan.
Philstar. (2025, December 31). PCG monitors Chinese research ship in northern Philippine waters.