MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard has intercepted a Chinese ship in the waters off Cebu province on Friday, the agency said.
The PCG said their personnel on board the BRP Nueva Vizcaya spotted the M/V Ming Yu Wan in waters near Malapascua Island.
The agency's spokesman, Cmdr. Armand Balilo, said they will determine why the Chinese vessel entered the area.
He explained that they received a supposed distress call from the Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Coordinating Center regarding the vessel, which went astray off Cebu.
Last April, 12 Chinese fishermen were caught in the Tubbataha Reef after their vessel ran aground in the protected UNESCO marine site.
The Chinese fishermen have been charged with poaching.
The Philippines is currently in a territorial dispute with China over some parts of the West Philippine Sea. The government has filed an international protest against China, which has sent ships intruding Philippine-owned islands.
The country was also recently involved in a diplomatic row with Taiwan after PCG personnel shot dead a suspected Taiwanese fisherman in waters off Batanes.
In his Independence Day speech last week, Preident Benigno Aquino III vowed to protect Philippine territory while demanding respect from other nations for the country's rights and sovereignty.
"Aggression does not run in our veins, but neither will we back down from any challenge," he said.
"The only thing we have asked is that our territory, rights, and dignity be respected, in the same way that we have respected the territory, rights, and dignity of other peoples," the President added.