World · Singapore Bureau
Philippines deploys largest ship to counter Chinese vessel near Taiwan
Manila's coast guard has sent its flagship and an aircraft to challenge a Chinese research ship operating in waters off northern Batanes province. The deployment comes as a Chinese coast guard vessel has also moved into the area.
LSN Singapore ·
The Philippine coast guard said on Thursday it had dispatched its largest vessel to confront a Chinese research ship conducting operations off Batanes province in the northern Philippines, an area in close proximity to Taiwan.
The move marks an escalation in maritime tensions in the region, with Manila mobilising its most substantial naval asset to assert its presence in the contested waters. The coast guard deployment also included an aircraft, underscoring the urgency of the operation.
A Chinese coast guard vessel has similarly moved into the area, according to Philippine authorities, adding another layer of complexity to the maritime standoff. The incident reflects ongoing friction between Manila and Beijing over territorial claims and maritime activities in the South China Sea and adjacent waters.
The Philippines has increasingly pushed back against what it characterises as Chinese incursions into its exclusive economic zone and areas over which it claims sovereignty. Such confrontations have become more frequent in recent years as both nations assert their respective maritime interests in the strategically important region.