PCG drives Chinese research vessel away from position off Batanes

The Chinese research vessel Jia Hai Ke 7 is spotted about 69 kilometers northwest of Itbayat, Batanes. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the vessel had been within the Philippine exclusive economic zone since Sept. 28, 2026, and was conducting unauthorized marine scientific research. —Photo from the PCG [Updated Oct. 1, 2026, 2:22 p.m.]

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it successfully disrupted the activities of a Chinese research vessel off Batanes on Thursday, compelling it to leave a position it had occupied for days within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The Chinese research vessel Jia Hai Ke 7 began moving from its position about 69 kilometers northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, at around 11:42 a.m., the PCG said.

It was the first time the vessel had moved from the area since the Coast Guard confirmed its presence there on Sept. 28.

“The PCG mission against the Chinese research vessel JIA HAI KE 7 was successful,” the Coast Guard said.

The PCG said BRP Teresa Magbanua continued to shadow Jia Hai Ke 7 to ensure that it exits the Philippine EEZ.

Earlier Thursday, the PCG deployed BRP Teresa Magbanua, a rigid-hull inflatable boat and an Islander aircraft to challenge Jia Hai Ke 7 and disrupt what it described as unauthorized marine scientific research.

Teresa Magbanua approached the Chinese research vessel to within about 91 meters at 7:55 a.m. before deploying the small boat, which circled Jia Hai Ke 7 several times, according to the PCG.

According to the PCG, the Chinese vessel repeatedly maneuvered to evade its units while Teresa Magbanua issued radio challenges.

CCG vessel with hull number 2503 later arrived in the area, moved toward Teresa Magbanua, and issued repeated radio challenges, the PCG said.

Teresa Magbanua then shadowed the Chinese coast guard vessel from about 914 meters while remaining near Jia Hai Ke 7.

The PCG said it believed Jia Hai Ke 7 was conducting unauthorized marine scientific research, citing its prolonged presence and movements in the area.

“A vessel exercising innocent passage or freedom of navigation would proceed on its course. Jia Hai Ke 7 has instead held its position in the same waters for four days, which is a clear indication that it is conducting MSR,” the PCG said in a statement.

The Coast Guard also questioned the involvement of CCG-2503, noting that Jia Hai Ke 7 was privately owned.

It said the presence of a Chinese government law enforcement vessel alongside the privately owned research ship raised questions about who Jia Hai Ke 7 was working for.

The PCG also raised concerns about what data the research vessel may have collected near undersea cable corridors in the Luzon Strait during its four-day presence in the area. It did not provide evidence showing what data, if any, had been collected.

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan also deployed a PCG Islander aircraft from Basco Airport to conduct a maritime domain awareness flight over the area.

The aircraft circled the vicinity several times at low altitude in support of Teresa Magbanua, according to the PCG.

The PCG later said the sustained presence of Teresa Magbanua and the Islander aircraft disrupted Jia Hai Ke 7’s activities and compelled the vessel to leave its position.

Jia Hai Ke 7 was moving at about 8.5 kilometers per hour when it departed at 11:42 a.m., according to the Coast Guard.

Teresa Magbanua continued to shadow the research vessel as it moved away to ensure it leaves the Philippine EEZ, the PCG said.

Under the  United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, coastal states have jurisdiction over marine scientific research in their EEZs, while research conducted there by other states or international organizations requires the coastal state’s consent.

The PCG said the Department of Foreign Affairs had confirmed that the Philippine government had not given Jia Hai Ke 7 permission to conduct marine scientific research in the area. /dl /atm /mr