Chinese Spy Ship Intrudes Deeper Into Philippine Waters, Stays 4 Days

The Philippines has said that a Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Electronic Reconnaissance Ship intruded into its territorial waters six weeks ago. Manila summoned the Chinese ambassador Monday to protest the "illegal intrusion and lingering presence" of the vessel.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Dongdiao-class Chinese navy Electronic Reconnaissance Ship with bow number 792 stayed inside its territorial waters for three days in the Sulu Sea, reported Reuters.

The DFA statement said the Chinese vessel crossed into the Sulu Sea and cruised off the western Palawan and nearby Mindoro provinces from Jan. 29 to Feb. 1. This area is separated by the island of Palawan from the South China Sea, a vast area of which Beijing claims sovereignty.

The ship was challenged by the Philippine Navy ship BRP Antonio Luna, but it maintained it was "exercising innocent passage," a claim disputed by the Philippines. The vessel stayed for four days, despite being "repeatedly directed by the BRP Antonio Luna to leave Philippine waters immediately."

According to the statement, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian was summoned by the Acting Foreign Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro over the issue.

"Acting Undersecretary Lazaro demanded that China respect Philippine territory and maritime jurisdiction, and to comply with its obligations under international law, particularly UNCLOS, and direct its vessels to desist from entering Philippine waters uninvited and without permission,” the DFA said.

However, the DFA did not explain the six-week delay in responding to the intrusion. The statement was then retweeted by Philippines foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin.

The Chinese embassy officials did not immediately react to the Philippine government statement.

This is the latest Chinese provocation against the Philippines over the South China Sea. Last November, three ships from the Chinese coastguard blocked and fired water cannons on two Philippines supply boats within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the disputed waters. The relations between the two countries had worsened in early 2021 after Chinese militia vessels were spotted off a disputed reef in the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, analysts said China's belligerent moves would likely continue. Naval expert Collin Koh of Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies told South China Morning Post that there is a possibility of the Chinese Navy’s actions becoming "the new normal unless coastal states respond vigorously."

According to Filipino security analyst Jose Antonio Custodio, the episode displayed how "China has no respect for international law." "They believe the Philippines has no resolve at all and these Chinese actions will be swept under the rug by [President Rodrigo Duterte] himself," Custodio told the news outlet.