Philippines, China tackle ‘monster ship’ incursions at Xiamen meeting
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines on Thursday, January 16, expressed its “serious concern” over the incursions of China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, including the so-called “monster ship,” in the Philippines’ maritime zones during a Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea (BCM) in Xiamen, China.
“The Philippines expressed serious concern regarding recent incidents in the South China Sea, particularly the activities of CCG 5901 and CCG 3103 in Philippine maritime zones that are inconsistent with the 1982 UNCLOS and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a release to the media.
Since early January, China has been sending vessels, including the massive CCG 5901, to an area just 60 to 90 nautical miles away from the coast of Zambales. The Philippine Coast Guard has been challenging the CCG ship, as it remains sailing in those waters. The National Security Council’s Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya has called on China to withdraw their ships.
The DFA said the two countries also “exchanged views” on a “provisional understanding” aimed to avoid tensions and confrontations during resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal, where the BRP Sierra Madre serves as a military outpost for the Philippines. The two countries “acknowledged its positive outcomes, and agreed to continue its implementation to sustain the de-escalation of tensions without prejudice to respective national positions,” said the DFA.
Without going into details, China and the Philippines “agreed to reinvigorate the platform for coast guard cooperation” — a proposal that was first brought up in July 2024, in the aftermath of a tense June 17, 2024 confrontation between the CCG and elite Philippine soldiers in Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal.
“The two sides also identified ocean meteorology as an area of focus for a workshop on marine scientific cooperation,” said the DFA.
DFA Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, who led the Philippine contingent, said the Philippines was willing to “engage in dialogue” even as its “position is clear and consistent.”
“We firmly believe that despite the unresolved challenges and differences, there is genuine space for diplomatic and pragmatic cooperation in dealing with our issues in the South China Sea,” she said in her opening remarks.
This is the 10th iteration of the BCM, which started in 2017 under former president Rodrigo Duterte. – Rappler.com