Chinese Coast Guard ‘monster ship,’ underwater drone enter Philippine waters

Jan 3

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Ryan Robertson Anchor

By Ryan Robertson (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor)

Philippine authorities are investigating the discovery of a suspected Chinese underwater drone and the presence of one of the world’s largest Coast Guard vessels, developments that are adding to rising tensions in the South China Sea. The region is the focus of ongoing disputes over territorial claims between China and the Philippines.

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On Monday, Dec. 30, fishermen near San Pascual in Masbate province discovered an unmanned underwater drone. Officials identified the device as Chinese-made and labeled “HY-119,” likely used for navigation and reconnaissance.

The Philippine Navy is analyzing the device due to potential national security implications, authorities said.

The unarmed drone has raised concerns about China’s increasing activity within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The zone extends 200 nautical miles from its coastline.

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The discovery follows previous confrontations in disputed areas, including the Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal, where Chinese vessels have used aggressive tactics against Philippine ships.

Adding to the tension, China’s 12,000-ton Coast Guard vessel, CCG 5901, nicknamed the “monster ship,” was recently sighted at Scarborough Shoal.

The reef is located 140 miles west of Luzon Island and lies within the Philippines’ EEZ. However, it has been under Chinese control since 2012. The armed Chinese Coast Guard vessel, accompanied by other Chinese ships, underscores Beijing’s efforts to assert dominance over the South China Sea.

A recent Pentagon report on Chinese military developments highlighted Beijing’s use of its navy, Coast Guard and maritime militia to enforce territorial claims. The deployment of the “monster ship” represents part of China’s broader strategy involving advanced technology and large-scale maritime operations.

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, overlapping the EEZs of neighboring nations, including the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Since taking office in 2022, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has intensified efforts to counter Chinese incursions, leading to more frequent maritime confrontations.

The United States regularly conducts freedom-of-navigation operations in the region to challenge China’s expansive claims. At the same time, U.S. allies across the Indo-Pacific are bolstering their defenses in response to Beijing’s actions.

Philippine officials have pledged to continue challenging China through diplomatic channels and increased patrols. Beijing has maintained its activities are consistent with its sovereignty claims.

The South China Sea remains a flash point for regional tensions, with significant implications for global security and trade.

Tags: China, Chinese drones, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Drones, People’s Republic of China, Philippines, South China Sea

[RYAN ROBERTSON}]

A SUSPECTED CHINESE UNDERWATER DRONE AND ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST COAST GUARD SHIPS—DUBBED THE ‘MONSTER SHIP’—ARE SPARKING FRESH CONCERNS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA… WHERE CONTROL OVER THE WATERS IS BEING ACTIVELY DISPUTED. THESE ARE JUST THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS AMID ONGOING CLASHES BETWEEN CHINA AND THE PHILIPPINES OVER EACH NATION’S MARITIME CLAIMS TO THE AREA.

ON DECEMBER 30TH, FISHERMEN DISCOVERED AN UNMANNED UNDERWATER DRONE. PHILIPPINE AUTHORITIES IDENTIFIED IT AS CHINESE-MADE, LABELED “HY-119,” AND LIKELY USED FOR NAVIGATION AND RECONNAISSANCE. THE POLICE GAVE THE DEVICE TO THE NAVY FOR ANALYSIS DUE TO POSSIBLE NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS.

ALTHOUGH UNARMED, THE DRONE’S PRESENCE RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT INCREASING CHINESE ACTIVITY IN THE PHILIPPINES’ EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE, AN AREA STRETCHING 200 NAUTICAL MILES FROM ITS COASTLINE. WE’VE REPORTED ON PLENTY OF PREVIOUS CONFRONTATIONS WHERE CHINESE VESSELS USED AGGRESSIVE TACTICS NEAR DISPUTED AREAS LIKE THE SECOND THOMAS AND SCARBOROUGH SHOALS.

MEANWHILE, THE MONSTER SHIP–CHINA’S MASSIVE 12-THOUSAND-TON COAST GUARD VESSEL, WAS RECENTLY SEEN AT SCARBOROUGH SHOAL TOO. THE REEF, 140 MILES WEST OF LUZON ISLAND, ALSO LIES WITHIN THE PHILIPPINES’ E-E-Z BUT IS UNDER CHINESE CONTROL. THE VESSEL, ARMED AND TRAVELING WITH OTHER CHINESE SHIPS, UNDERSCORES BEIJING’S PUSH TO DOMINATE THE SOUTH CHINA SEA…A MOVE THE PHILIPPINES COAST GUARD SAYS IS MAKING VICTIMS OUT OF OTHER SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS.

A REPORT FROM THE PENTAGON INVOLVING SECURITY DEVELOPMENTS AND THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA HIGHLIGHTS THE PRC’S USE OF NAVY, COAST GUARD, AND MARITIME MILITIA ASSETS TO STAKE ITS TERRITORIAL CLAIMS. THE APPEARANCE OF THE “MONSTER SHIP” IS PART OF A BROADER STRATEGY INVOLVING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND LARGE-SCALE DEPLOYMENTS.

CHINA CLAIMS NEARLY THE ENTIRE SOUTH CHINA SEA, OVERLAPPING THE E-E-Zs OF NATIONS LIKE THE PHILIPPINES, VIETNAM, AND MALAYSIA. SINCE TAKING OFFICE IN 2022, PRESIDENT FERDINAND MARCOS JR. RAMPED UP EFFORTS TO COUNTER CHINESE INCURSIONS, LEADING TO MORE FREQUENT STANDOFFS.

THE U.S. ALSO CONDUCTS FREEDOM-OF-NAVIGATION OPERATIONS IN THE REGION TO CHALLENGE CHINA’S CLAIMS….AND PRETTY MUCH EVERY OTHER U-S ALLY IN THE INDO-PACIFIC ARE ALSO ARMING THEMSELVES FOR A POTENTIAL CLASH WITH CHINA.

MANILA SAYS IT PLANS TO KEEP CHALLENGING CHINA THROUGH DIPLOMACY AND EXPANDED PATROLS.
MEANWHILE, BEIJING’S DEFENSE MINISTRY INSISTS ITS ACTIVITIES ALIGN WITH ITS SOVEREIGNTY CLAIMS.

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