2 Chinese survey ships spotted operating in Philippines’ EEZ

MANILA, Philippines — Two Chinese survey ships have been recently spotted operating within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

The two ships were found on the eastern and northwestern side of the Philippines by Ryan Martinson, an assistant professor at the U.S. Naval War College, who posted the tracking of the vessels on Twitter.

Chinese oceanographic survey ship “Zhanjian” was operating 80 nautical miles off the east coast of the Philippines.

Now we have the Chinese oceanographic survey ship "Zhanjian" operating just 80 nautical miles off the east coast of the Philippines. Is it operating there with Manila's permission? (file photo) pic.twitter.com/R1lwJrNp3V

— Ryan Martinson (@rdmartinson88) August 6, 2019

“Is it operating with Manila’s permission?” he tweeted on Tuesday.

The ship has been operating in the Philippines’ EEZ since Saturday, Aug. 3, he said.

On Wednesday, Martinson posted a new map tracking of another Chinese survey vessel located at the northwestern side of the country.

“Add the Dong Fang Hong 3 to the list of Chinese survey ships operating in the Philippines exclusive economic zone today,” he said.

Add the Dong Fang Hong 3 to the list of Chinese survey ships operating in the Philippines exclusive economic zone today. Would require Manila’s permission to conduct research there. (file photo) pic.twitter.com/j8lx96E1tR

— Ryan Martinson (@rdmartinson88) August 7, 2019

Martinson has also been monitoring the developments of China’s deployment of survey ships in Malaysia and Vietnam’s EEZ in the South China Sea.

It appears that the Department of Foreign Affairs is not aware on the presence of the ships in the Philippines’ EEZ.

In a statement to Martinson’s tweet about the ship found 80 nautical miles off the east coast of the Philippines, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said he would only depend on the information coming from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“That’s not happening until I hear from the Armed Forces,” Locsin said on Twitter.

“Because of the prevalence and proclivity of civilians to lie about anything, Philippine foreign affairs in my watch is the first in the iron glove of the Armed Forces and relies only on military info and recommendations,” he added.  /muf