Another Chinese ship seen operating in Philippine waters
MANILA, Philippines — Another Chinese oceanographic survey ship has been seen operating in the northern part of the Philippines, a US think tank says. .
Ryan Martinson, assistant professor at China Maritime Studies Institute of the US Naval War College, tweeted photos of the track of Chinese survey ship Dong Fang Hong 3 in northern Luzon.
This came days after Chinese survey ship Zhang Jian was also located operating about 80 nautical miles off the east coast of the Philippines.
Add the Dong Fang Hong 3 to the list of Chinese survey ships operating in the Philippines exclusive economic zone today. Would require Manila’s permission to conduct research there. (file photo) pic.twitter.com/j8lx96E1tR
— Ryan Martinson (@rdmartinson88) August 7, 2019
Martinson noted that the operation of the Chinese research vessel in Philippine exclusive economic zone would require the permission of the government.
Data obtained from ship tracking intelligence MarineTraffic showed that Dong Fang Hong 3 was in Philippine waters as of August 7.
Dong Fang Hong 3 is China's first research vessel to obtain a Silent-R certificate, the highest standard for underwater noise control, according to a report from Chinese state-run Xinhua.
Data from ship tracking intelligence MarineTraffic shows Chinese oceanographic survey ship Dong Fang Hong 3 in the waters of northern Luzon in the West Philippine Sea on Aug. 7, 2019.
In previous tweets, Martinson also noted that the Zhang Jian started operating in Philippine waters since August 3.
Here's a close-up of activities from August 5-6. pic.twitter.com/UWIgwbO8jw
— Ryan Martinson (@rdmartinson88) August 6, 2019
Based on the track of the Chinese survey ship, Martinson said it is conducting marine scientific research and might be placing or recovering instruments in the area.
Gregory Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Institute, responded to Martinson's tweet to confirm if the China's research in the area could be used for future submarine operations, which the latter confirmed.
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DFA to rely on Philippine military info
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., on the other hand, said he would only rely on the Philippine military to confirm such reports.
"Because of the prevalence and proclivity of civilians to lie about anything, Philippine foreign affairs in my watch is the fist in the iron glove of the Armed Forces and relies only on military info and recommendations," Locsin tweeted Wednesday.
That's not happening until I hear from the Armed Forces. Because of the prevalence and proclivity of civilians to lie about anything, Philippine foreign affairs in my watch is the fist in the iron glove of the Armed Forces and relies only on military info and recommendations. https://t.co/y7QbTbygha
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) August 7, 2019
The Philippines' top diplomat tweeted this in response to a netizen who commented on Martinson's post about the location of Zhang Jian in the east coast of the country.
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Martinson has been monitoring the movement of Chinese ships in the disputed South China Sea, including the recent operation of a Chinese survey ship near a Vietnamese-controlled reef in the Spratly Islands.
Vietnam had called for China's "immediate withdrawal" of the Chinese research ship in the South China Sea. A Chinese coast guard vessel was also spotted near Vietnamese supply ships prior to this incident.
"Vietnam has had several appropriate diplomatic exchanges... requesting immediate withdrawal from Vietnam's exclusive economic zone," Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang earlier said.
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