No sightings of Chinese ship in Philippine Rise, says PCG

The two Chinese research ships were recently spotted in the vicinity of the Philippine Rise, which is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone

MANILA, Philippines — No Chinese ship was monitored in Philippine (Benham) Rise as of Friday, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo told INQUIRER.net.

“The patrol operations in Benham Rise are still ongoing, but there are no sightings of any Chinese vessels in the area,” Balilo said over the phone.

READ: PCG deploys one of its biggest vessels to Benham Rise

On Monday, PCG deployed one of its biggest vessels, the BRP Gabriela Silang, to the northeast corner of the resource-rich submerged landmass inside the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for a two-week mission.

Aside from being inside the EEZ, the 24-million-hectare undersea feature is part of the Philippine continental shelf.

The 84-meter vessel was deployed in the area following the reported presence of two Chinese research vessels.

READ: Chinese research ships spotted in Benham Rise now out of PH’s EEZ

But Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said that research ships Haiyang Dizhi Liuhao and Haiyang Dizhi Liuhao were out of the country’s EEZ since Sunday.

The presence of these research vessels could have something to do with an underwater survey to prepare for the possible occupation of Taiwan, according to defense analyst and Dela Salle University professor Renato de Castro.

READ: China may be surveying Benham Rise to study Taiwan ‘entry’ — expert

Taiwan, a self-ruled island that China regards as a renegade province subject to reunification, broke away from the mainland in 1949 following the takeover of Mao Zedong’s communist forces.