Philippines Deploys Military And Coast Guard To EEZ Monitor Chinese Ships

The AW-159 Wildcat AL Philippine helicopter is above the BRP frigate Antonio Luna (FF-151). (Wikimedia Commons/BRP Antonio Luna FF151 - PF)

JAKARTA - The Philippines is deploying military air and sea forces as well as coast guard to the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) region to monitor China's largest coast guard vessel known as China's "intimidation, coercion and aggression".

According to the Philippine coast guard, the 165 m (541 ft) 5901 ship, known by the Philippines as a "monster", was 65 to 70 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales Province, South China Sea on Sunday.

"All of our assets are directed to this monster ship. When the ship (conducts) any provocative action, it will be responded with the right response," said a spokesman for Jonathan Malaya's National Security Council on Monday.

According to a video shared by the Philippine coast guard, they ordered Chinese ships to leave the area, with their warning not having the authority to operate there.

In its radio response, the Chinese ship said it was carrying out law enforcement duties in its jurisdictional waters.

"This is part of China's intimidation, coercion, aggression and fraud. They are showing off their ships to intimidate our fishermen," Malaya said, adding the Philippines' maritime presence would be increased to support fishermen.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It is known that relations between China and the Philippines have deteriorated in recent years, with frequent quarrels over Manila, under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., rejecting what he sees as aggression by Beijing. China accuses the Philippines of repeated violations in its waters.

The Bamboo Curtain country claims most of the South China Sea, the main trade route is US$3 trillion annually, as its own territory, with the presence of large coast guards inside and around the EEZs of neighboring Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia.

Beijing rejected a 2016 ruling by a Permanent Court of Arbitration centered in The Hague that said the extensive maritime claims had no legal basis.