Two Chinese research vessels, the Haiyang Dizhi Liuhao and Haiyang Dizhi Shihao, were observed “loitering” in the resource-rich Philippine Rise, situated east of Luzon, according to a report by a US maritime analyst on Friday.
Former United States Air Force official and ex-Defense Attaché Ray Powell disclosed that the vessels departed from Longque Island in Guangzhou province on February 26, traversing east-southeast through the Luzon Strait, passing between Basco, Batanes, and Luzon’s islands.
However, the Philippine Navy spokesperson, Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, reassured that the presence of the Chinese vessels is not alarming, as they have exited the country’s exclusive economic zone as of Saturday, possibly for a routine transit passage.
Dr. Chester Cabalza, founding president of the International Development and Security Cooperation think tank, emphasized the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which permits innocent passage of foreign vessels in exclusive economic zones, provided they don’t engage in proprietary activities without permission.
He urged the Philippine government to bolster its maritime presence to safeguard the territory, given the Philippine Rise’s ecological significance, housing diverse marine life and serving as a vital fishing ground and biodiversity hotspot.
Source: PhilNews24 | March 4, 2024
