MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese research vessel approached close to the Philippine coastline on Saturday morning before switching off its tracking system, a maritime security analyst reported.
Retired US Air Force Col. Ray Powell, director of the SeaLight project at Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center, said that the Dong Fang Hong 3, a 103-meter oceanographic ship, came within 65 nautical miles of the Philippines before going “dark” at 7:12 a.m. local time., This news data comes from:http://rgrlnmj.redcanaco.com
The vessel is equipped with advanced oceanographic sensors, multi-beam sonar, and remotely operated vehicles, giving it the capability to conduct seabed mapping, acoustic monitoring, and surveys of underwater infrastructure, Powell noted.
Chinese research vessel spotted near Philippine coast but 'goes dark' after, says maritime expert
He warned that such activities form part of Beijing’s “gray zone tactics playbook,” in which China mixes legitimate scientific research with assertion of its maritime claims and the gathering of potential military intelligence.
Powell’s post, citing tracking data from maritime analytics firm Starboard, comes amid continuing tensions in the West Philippine Sea, where Manila has repeatedly protested Chinese incursions.
As of posting time, Philippine authorities have yet to issue a statement on the reported movement of the Chinese vessel.
- PH, Japan conduct search and rescue exercises
- Israel army urges Gaza City residents to leave
- DPWH told to build evacuation centers
- Malacañang hits back at VP Duterte's criticism on flood scam probe
- PNP enlists Interpol help in hunt for Japanese mastermind behind Manila double murder
- Harold Cabreros takes post as new OCD chief
- Dizon to abolish DPWH internal special investigation team created to look into the flood control anomalies
- Filipino weightlifter Vanessa Sarno banned for 2 years for anti-doping violation
- Thai court dismisses prime minister over compromising phone call with Cambodian leader
- Malacañang calls plot to jail VP Duterte 'wild imagination'
