PCG: China using AIS spoofing to mislead public and stir confusion

Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for WPS. INQUIRER.net file photo / Arnel Tacson

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea,  alleged that China is using an automatic identification system (AIS) spoofing to mislead international community and instigate public concern.

Tarriela’s remarks were issued after residents of San Felipe, Zambales sounded the alarm after seeing in a marine tracker of what appeared to be a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel near a dredging site in the province.

“It is clear that the Chinese Coast Guard is engaging in AIS spoofing to mislead the international community, confuse authorities, and instigate public concern,” said Tarriela in a tweet.

AIS spoofing involves the manipulation of AIS data to deceive maritime vessels or monitoring systems.

According to Tarriela, it’s “ironic” that maritime safety is compromised by China’s disregard for the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.

“Analyzing the 60-day track of CCG-21543, it becomes evident that this vessel could not realistically navigate those routes. It is highly probable that they are exploiting the AIS signals of other vessels for their spoofing activities,” he said.

“In the Philippines, it seems likely that they are utilizing dredgers to facilitate this AIS manipulation,” he added.

Following the alarm raised by dwellers in San Felipe, Cmdr. Euphraim Jayson Diciano, chief of the PCG station in Zambales, assured residents that all vessels would be closely monitored, noting that their detection of a suspected CCG vessel may have been just due to a technical glitch.