China vessels spotted off Manila Bay, El Nido

MANILA, Philippines — Two China Coast Guard (CCG) ships were spotted off Manila Bay, conducting “intrusive patrol” in the area and in some parts of Luzon waters in the past days, according to defense and maritime security expert Ray Powell.

“China’s intrusive patrol continues with China Coast Guard 3301 cruising outside Manila Bay this morning,” Powell, director of SeaLight and a former US Air Force official, said in a post on X yesterday.

He reported that another CCG ship, with bow number 3105, has been “AIS-dark since 22 July.” AIS refers to the automatic identification system that large ships are required to activate for safety and security purposes.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela confirmed the presence of the two CCG vessels in the area.

Powell’s X post was an update of his previous post last July 22 wherein he revealed the presence of CCG
 vessels – also “on an intrusive patrol” some 40 nautical miles from El Nido in Palawan.

On the same day, President Marcos declared in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) that the West Philippine Sea was not a figment of imagination.

“Intrusive patrol” is “a key component of China’s strategy to reinforce its expansive maritime claims in disputed waters,” according to an online article from SeaLight.

In a statement, Tarriela said the PCG “detected the Shucha II-class China Coast Guard Vessel 3301 traveling at a speed of nine knots approximately 62.08 nautical miles west of Capones Island, Zambales.”

The vessel “departed from Bajo de Masinloc on July 21, 2024, and headed towards El Nido, Palawan, where it joined the Zhaotim-class (CCG vessel) 3105,” Tarriela said. Bajo de Masinloc is another local name for Panatag Shoal, the international name of which is Scarborough Shoal.

“On July 23, 2024, it moved to the northeast of Recto Bank and stayed there for more than a day before proceeding towards its current location” or the west of Capones Island in Zambales, he also said, referring to one of the Chinese vessels.

Tarriela also confirmed that CCG 3105 “has been experiencing irregular AIS transmission since July 22, 2024.”

The vessel, he added, “showed no significant movements and remained 64.5 (nautical miles) away from Tapiutan, El Nido, Palawan.”

The PCG used the “Dark Vessel Detection technology” provided by the government of Canada in monitoring the Chinese vessels, Tarriela noted.