A spokesman for the Philippines' National Security Council said Manila was surprised by China's “increasing aggression” in the maritime dispute.
The Philippines says China's deployment of its largest coast guard vessel in Manila's exclusive Maritime Economic Zone (EEZ) is alarming and aims to intimidate fishermen operating around the South China Sea.
Philippine National Security Council spokesman Jonathan Malaya said on Tuesday that Manila would protest over the presence of the 165-meter (541ft) Chinese remote control ship 5901, which was spotted 77 nautical miles (142km) off the coast of Zambales Province. and wanted them to leave the EEZ.
“We were surprised by the level of aggression that the People's Republic of China sent by sending the submarine,” Malaya said.
“It is more and more disturbing,” he said, saying the presence of the ship was “illegal” and “unacceptable”.
The Philippine Coastguard said it sent two of its largest vessels to chase the Chinese ship.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Monday that the “supervision and law enforcement” of its guards are “appropriate, legitimate and beyond reproach” in the region.
The Philippine National Maritime Council also condemned on Monday the “unlawful presence and activities” of “Chinese navy and military personnel” in the country's territorial waters and EEZ, identifying two coastal patrol vessels and a Chinese naval helicopter, which “sat on top” Philippine Coastguard vessel.
“The increasing activity of these Chinese ships and aircraft is in violation of Philippine and international law,” the commission said.
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 | 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐄𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐓 𝐇𝐇𝐓𝐄 𝐃𝐂 𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀 𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐄𝐄𝐙 pic.twitter.com/0sN0qiy7If
– President's Office of Maritime Affairs (@POMC57) January 13, 2025
Tensions between the Philippines and Beijing have escalated over the past two years due to increasing disputes in the South China Sea.
In 2016, the International Court of Justice ruled that China's claims to the waterway were groundless, a ruling that Beijing rejects.
Most of China's claims include the EEZs of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
The South China Sea is a strategic waterway through which approximately $3 trillion in annual trade flows.