Philippines Accuses Chinese Vessel of Unauthorized Research Near Rozul Reef

The Philippine Coast Guard accused a Chinese research vessel of conducting unauthorized marine scientific research near Rozul Reef in the country's exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea on May 6.

During a maritime patrol flight, a Philippine Coast Guard aircraft monitored the Xiang Yang Hong 33 approximately 7.34 nautical miles west of Rozul Reef, also known as Iroquois Reef in the Reed Bank area. The vessel was observed deploying a service boat toward the reef, an action the Coast Guard described as evidence of ongoing illegal operations. The patrol also detected one Chinese Coast Guard vessel loitering nearby and 13 Chinese maritime militia ships anchored in the vicinity. Separately, 28 Chinese maritime militia vessels were tracked near Pagasa Island, also known as Thitu Island, with another Chinese Coast Guard vessel positioned about two nautical miles west of the island.

The Philippine Coast Guard stated that the Xiang Yang Hong 33 had departed China on April 15 and conducted survey activities across multiple features within the Philippine exclusive economic zone since then. Tracking data indicated operations near Ayungin Shoal from April 20 to 22, Escoda Shoal from...