PCG: No more Chinese research vessel near Catanduanes

A Chinese-flagged research vessel, Shen Kuo, is spotted in the vicinity northeast of Viga, Catanduanes in this photo taken by Tactical Operations Wing Southern Luzon (TOWSOL) personnel of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) aboard a Nomad N-22 aircraft on April 27, 2024. TOWSOL PAF

The Chinese research vessel that was caught lowering an equipment near Catanduanes in April has left, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Tuesday.

“As of this time, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, wala na tayong nakitang research vessel or namataan dito sa area ng Catanduanes, or even in Northern Samar,” West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.

(We no longer see any research vessel in Catanduanes or Northern Samar.)

Tarriela said the vessel, Shen Kuo, was last spotted on May 1.

This was a day after it was caught lowering an equipment in the area. The Philippine Navy previously said it is still trying to identify the equipment that the vessel used.

According to the PCG, the vessel departed from Shenzhen Port on April 13 and passed through Itbayat and Basco Batanes on April 22.

The vessel then moved southward within 11 nautical miles off the coast of Mapanas, Northern Samar on April 25, before traveling north again until it reached the waters off Catanduanes where it was monitored by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Asked why the research vessel entered the country’s exclusive economic zone, Tarriela said the PCG is not yet clear on the vessel’s objective but that it may have been to conduct a hydrographic survey.??

“There must be other data that they are looking into dito sa ating EEZ. But for me to explain really, ano ang objective nila dito, as of this time this is not yet clear for the PCG,” he said.

The “loitering” of the Chinese-flagged research vessel came as more Chinese ships were seen shadowing the Philippines, the United States, and French naval vessels during the Balikatan joint military exercise in the West Philippine Sea on Sunday. —Joahna Lei Casilao/ VAL, GMA Integrated News

This article PCG: No more Chinese research vessel near Catanduanes was originally published in GMA News Online.