WHY IS IT HERE? The Chinese- flagged Shen Kuo is seen in the waters northeast of Viga, Catanduanes province, in this photo taken from a Philippine Air Force (PAF) plane. PHOTO FROM TOWSOL, PAF
MANILA, Philippines — The research vessel seen in the eastern section in the country was also spotted deploying unidentified equipment, according to the Philippine Navy.
Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the laying out of the equipment was done around 100 miles east of Catanduanes.
“Their erratic behavior or their erratic track is indicative of conducting studies or possibly maritime research for whatever reason,” Trinidad said in a regular AFP press briefing.
Trinidad continued: “The Philippine Air Force on a maritime surveillance flight was able to get a picture of the ship lowering an unidentified equipment probably for scientific research or studies. We are still trying to identify the particular type of equipment that was monitored.”
The official said they are in close coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard, which is still looking for a favorable weather condition to send a vessel there.
READ: AFP: Chinese ship seen near Catanduanes possibly on survey mission
Send a ship
“We’re in close coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard to be able to send a ship to respond. The coast guard is looking for the most favorable time before it could send out a ship,” Trinidad said.
Over the weekend, the AFP reported that the vessel was spotted off Viga town in Catanduanes on Saturday.
Chester Cabalza, president and founder of the Manila-based think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, said the ship’s presence there may either be a diversionary tactic in view of the ongoing war games between Manila and Washington.
Cabalza also added that the activity could also be viewed as “a military mission disguised in scientific research.”
For this year alone, this is the second time a Chinese research vessel was spotted in the country’s eastern section of the country where Philippine (Benham) Rise—a 24-million-hectare undersea feature part of the Philippine continental shelf and is inside the country’s exclusive economic zone—were spotted.
Two Chinese research vessels were spotted in Philippine Rise last month.