Philippine coast guard says China ship conducting illegal survey within EEZ

5/5/2025 19:15

The Philippines has deployed a coast guard vessel and an aircraft to challenge and escort a Chinese research ship it said was conducting illegal marine scientific research activities within the country's exclusive economic zone.



The Chinese Research Vessel (CRV) Tan Suo 3 was detected entering the country's EEZ on May 1, 2025, around 92 nautical miles off the Philippines' northern Ilocos coast, the PCG said in a statement on Monday.



"Their irregular movements were deemed inconsistent with the freedom of navigation and indicative of marine scientific research activities, which violate the sovereign rights of the Philippines," the PCG said.



It said it launched a maritime law enforcement operation to challenge the Chinese vessel's presence, and had prevented the vessel from continuing its "unlawful activities."