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.
Chinese research vessel spotted near Philippine coast but 'goes dark' after, says maritime expert
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://dotjxt.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.
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.
Chinese research vessel spotted near Philippine coast but 'goes dark' after, says maritime expert
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.
- Marcos says commission on DPWH anomalies to be finalized 'very soon,' mum on Magalong participation
- China to bolster non-Western alliances at summit, parade
- Marcos opens Hyundai's shipyard in PH
- 13 massage therapists robbed, 2 cry rape
- COA launches sweeping audit of flood control projects
- Vatican puts Pope Francis' ecological preaching into practice with vocational farm center
- Thailand's Parliament to vote Friday for a new prime minister
- NBI slaps Alice Guo, 35 Others with new graft, misconduct cases
- Pangilinan pushes coordinated water management
- Trump move to cut more foreign aid risking shutdown
