Taiwan confirms its patrol vessels monitoring Chinese ships near Philippines

Taipei, Oct. 3 (CNA) Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) confirmed on Saturday that it had recently deployed three patrol vessels to waters in the overlapping exclusive economic zone (EEZ) with the Philippines to monitor three Chinese vessels.

CGA Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin (謝慶欽) told CNA that the CGA regularly monitors Chinese vessels around Taiwan, and that the deployment south of Eluanbi, Taiwan's southernmost point, was carried out in accordance with standard procedures.

He added that the waters fall within the overlapping EEZs of Taiwan and the Philippines, which extend 200 nautical miles from their coastlines.

Hsieh made the comments when asked about a statement Friday by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Jay Tarriela that three Taiwanese vessels were operating near the BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701), the PCG's largest cutter, while it was monitoring three Chinese vessels -- the JIA HAI KE 7 survey ship and two China Coast Guard vessels.

The BRP Teresa Magbanua was shadowing the three Chinese vessels as the JIA HAI KE 7 moved north from its previous position toward the outer limit of the Philippine EEZ in the Luzon Strait, according to Tarriela.

Taiwan's Coast Guard vessel Changhua (CG1001) was 0.89 nautical miles from the MRRV-9701's port bow, while the Taichung (CG1002) and Tainan (CG126) were 1.18 nautical miles and 5.45 nautical miles from its port bow, respectively, Tarriela said.

Tarriela's statement prompted online discussion in the Philippines about whether Taiwan and the Philippines were jointly responding to Chinese maritime activities, although neither the PCG nor the CGA had commented on the matter.

Tarriela on Friday expressed concern over the Chinese seabed-survey ship's movements, noting that it had remained for four days in waters crossed by critical submarine cable corridors and had spoofed its AIS data, potentially making the ship more difficult to track.

He added that the JIA HAI KE 7's escort by two Chinese Coast Guard vessels suggested that the ship could be serving the interests of the Chinese government.

Tarriela added that the presence of other maritime law enforcement vessels in the area, referring to the three Taiwanese CGA vessels, showed that concerns over the Chinese survey ship extended beyond the Philippines.

The JIA HAI KE 7 had not sought or obtained permission from Manila to conduct marine research in the Philippine EEZ, as required under Article 246 of UNCLOS and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, he said.