Philippine Coast Guard says China has ‘monster ship’ anchored in South China Sea

MANILA (Reuters) – China’s largest coast guard ship has anchored in Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Saturday, seeking to intimidate its smaller Asian neighbour.

Jay Tallera, spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard, told a news forum that the 165-meter-long Chinese Coast Guard ship “Monster” entered Manila’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone on July 2.

He said the Philippine Coast Guard warned the Chinese vessel that its vessels had entered the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and questioned its intentions.

“This is intimidation by the Chinese Coast Guard,” Tariela said. “We will not withdraw and we will not be intimidated.”

The Chinese Embassy in Manila and China’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. There is no public contact information for the China Coast Guard.

Talela said the Chinese ship also sent a small boat that anchored 800 yards from the Philippine Coast Guard vessel.

In May, the Philippine Coast Guard sent a ship to Sabina Shoal to stop China from carrying out small-scale land reclamation, which China denied. China has carried out large-scale land reclamation on some islands in the South China Sea to build air force and other military facilities, causing concern in Washington and around the region.

China claims much of the South China Sea, a major conduit for $3 trillion in annual maritime trade, as its territory. Beijing has rejected a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that said its expansive maritime claims had no legal basis.

Following high-level talks, the Philippines and China agreed on Tuesday on the need to “restore trust” and “rebuild confidence” to better handle their maritime disputes.

The Philippines has rejected an offer from its treaty ally the United States to assist it in operations in the South China Sea, despite a conflict with China over the supply of Philippine troops on a disputed shoal.

(This story has been resubmitted to correct the quotation marks in the headline)

(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Additional reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)