Following the reported sighting of two Chinese research vessels in Benham Rise, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) deployed a ship that will be sailing for a two-week mission to Batanes and the Philippine Rise, which began on Monday, March 4.
PCG spokesperson CG Rear Admiral Armando Balilo, mentioned that the BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) will be patrolling in the vicinity for maritime domain awareness that will bolster the presence of the Coast Guard in Northern Luzon as well as monitor local fishermen.
He added that they will also consider checking the detected Chinese vessels, which are said to be “loitering” in Benham Rise, while the Coast Guard Aviation Force air assets are instructed to standby for possible augmentation, particularly in performing aerial surveillance.
On Friday, former United States Air Force official and ex-Defense Attaché Ray Powell reported that two Chinese research vessels, Haiyang Dizhi Liuhao and Haiyang Dizhi Shihao, had been detected “loitering” at the Philippine Rise.
According to Powell, the said ships sailed from Longque Island in Guangzhou province on February 26 and moved east-southeast through the Luzon Strait.
In Powell’s “X” post, he showed a map that confirmed the vessels’ direction as they sailed between Basco, Batanes, and islands off the main island of Luzon as of March 1.
In such a report, Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro directed an increased military presence in Batanes, wanting structures in the province after inspecting Naval Detachment Basco, Naval Detachment Mavulis, Itbayat Airport, and the Multi-Agency Facility in Mahatao.
