Manila: The Philippines on Tuesday challenged the presence of a Chinese vessel spotted near its northern coast as regional tensions remained high following large scale Chinese military drills around Taiwan.
According to Philippine authorities, a Chinese research ship was detected about 19 nautical miles off Cagayan province in the north of the country. The area falls within the Philippines exclusive economic zone. The Philippine Coast Guard said it deployed an aircraft to identify the vessel and issued radio calls seeking clarification about its activities.
Officials said the Chinese ship did not respond to the radio challenge. The coast guard later observed the vessel moving eastward toward international waters.
Manila said any marine research activity inside its exclusive economic zone requires prior permission from the Philippine government. Authorities stressed that unapproved operations could violate both national laws and international maritime rules.
The Chinese embassy in Manila responded by saying the vessel was carrying out normal manoeuvres. It added that China does not accept certain maritime claims made under Philippine domestic laws and insisted that international law allows freedom of navigation in the area.
The incident took place against the backdrop of heightened military activity in the region. China recently conducted major naval and air exercises around Taiwan, prompting Taiwan to stay on high alert even as some Chinese ships began to pull back.
Security analysts note that northern Philippines has gained strategic importance because of its proximity to Taiwan and recent defence cooperation between the Philippines and the United States. This has increased sensitivities around maritime movements in nearby waters.
The latest encounter adds to a series of sea related incidents in the western Pacific, highlighting growing tensions between Philippines and China as military and coast guard activities intensify near Taiwan.