MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese surveillance ship recently docked at the Davao port on Monday evening, according to a global vessel tracking website.
Data from ship tracking intelligence MarineTraffic showed that China's space tracking ship Yuanwang-3 is currently docked at the port of President Rodrigo Duterte's hometown.
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The Yuanwang-class are usually used by the People's Liberation Army Navy for tracking and support of satellite and intercontinental ballistic missiles, according to tracking websites.
An old report from the Chinese military said that the Yuanwang-3 was commissioned on May 18, 1995.
The ship's special equipment systems have been upgraded in 2016 and now has the highest frequency monitoring and control system. This made the ship's tracking control and capability greater.
As of June 2017, the Chinese space tracking ship has completed 43 expeditions to the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. It has also finished 67 maritime tracking tasks for China's manned space program, according to China Military's report.
The arrival of the Chinese ship in Davao comes a month after another Chinese military aircraft landed at the Davao City International Airport to refuel. The first Chinese plane reportedly landed in Davao City on June 8 to refuel while another landed on June 24.
Meanwhile, members of the Senate minority filed a resolution seeking for an inquiry into the presence of Chinese military aircraft in Davao City.
"Whereas, the successive occurrence of Chinese military planes making 'technical' stops in Davao City raises the question of whether or not the Constitution's proscription against the presence of foreign troops in the country unless covered by a treaty duly ratified by the Senate is being violated by the Duterte administration," the Senate resolution read. — Patricia Lourdes Viray