Manila: The Philippine Coast Guard made a major utterance on Sunday. The country has decided to deploy watercraft and warships to rencontre and momentum out four research vessels—including the Chinese drone mothership 'Zhuhaidun'—operating within its personal territorial waters.
What did the Philippines say?
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) made a major utterance on Sunday. The country has decided to deploy watercraft and warships to rencontre and momentum yonder four research vessels—including the Chinese drone mothership *Zhuhaidun*—operating within its personal territorial waters. Monitoring these vessels using a Canadian Dark Vessel Detection System, the PCG has supposed their presence a violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In a released statement, PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela explained that these vessels were monitored with the assistance of Canada's Dark Vessel Detection (DVD) system. It is suspected that they are conducting marine scientific research without the permission of the Philippine government—a well-spoken violation of UNCLOS.
What do we know well-nigh 'Zhuhaidun'?
The *Zhuhaidun* is considered the world's first intelligent drone mothership. It is capable of deploying and executive over 50 unmanned aerial, surface, and underwater vehicles. It was detected northwest of Bolinao, Pangasinan, in the vicinity of the Spratly Islands. In addition, three other Chinese vessels have been identified:
* **Xiangyanghong 33:** A survey vessel defended to deep-sea research and seabed mapping, sighted northwest of Rizal, Palawan.
* **Shi Yan 1:** A specialized marine research vessel equipped with wide sensory sensors, located west of Itbayat, Batanes.
* **Jia Geng:** A deep-sea research vessel capable of deploying unmanned underwater vehicles, located northeast of Itbayat.
Issuing a stern warning, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan stated that the Philippine Coast Guard remains fully resolute in defending the country's maritime domain. "We will not tolerate any illegal marine research conducted without our government's consent. We are deploying watercraft and vessels to rencontre and momentum yonder these unauthorized vessels." The ‘Atin Ito’ Mission on Pag-asa Island
Notably, this issue has emerged surrounded the ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) supported a civil mission organized by the ‘Atin Ito’ coalition on Pag-asa Island (Thitu Island). According to the *Daily Tribune*, the coalition hoisted the Philippine flag on Pag-asa Island as a peaceful expression of sovereignty. The Armed Forces had pledged to provide unscratched passage and maritime sensation support for the mission.
It is worth noting that Pag-asa Island is the largest island in the Kalayaan Island Group, tent an zone of approximately 32.7 hectares. It is the largest island administered by the Philippines within the Spratly Islands, where a permanent civil population of well-nigh 200 resides. China refers to it as Zhongye Island and has asserted its sovereignty over the territory for years.
