China's deployment of 'monster ship' is 'illegal': Philippines

WASHINGTON/ISTANBUL

The Philippines said Tuesday that China's deployment of its largest coast guard vessel inside Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is "illegal."

"The presence of the monster ship in our waters is illegal and inconsistent with the exercise of freedom of navigation and innocent passage," National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya told reporters.

His remarks came after China on Saturday deployed its largest coast guard vessel in waters off the coast of the Zambales province.

"It is clearly a provocative act. It is also a clear attempt to intimidate our fishermen and deprive them of their legitimate livelihood," Malaya said.

He also called on China to withdraw the "monster ship" from the Philippines' territorial waters and added that the Philippines issued a diplomatic protest and will use all channels to address this.

Tensions between Beijing and Manila have intensified in recent months over the South China Sea, a region spanning 3.5 million square kilometers (around 1.35 million square miles) through which an estimated $11.3 billion in global trade passes annually, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Last month, Manila accused Beijing of its naval vessels having been involved in "harassment" of the Philippines vessels and warned it would deploy a warship to the disputed South China Sea.

The dispute underscores the growing regional frictions over the strategic waterway, with China claiming nearly all the South China Sea, overlapping with the territorial waters of several countries, including the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as the island of Taiwan.

Manila has consistently accused Beijing of aggressive actions, including the use of its coast guard and maritime militia to intimidate the Philippines vessels and fishermen.

Reacting to Manila, the Foreign Ministry in Beijing said China’s "sovereignty and related rights in the South China Sea have been established through a long historical process, supported by extensive historical and legal evidence, and are consistent with international law and practices."

The China Coast Guard "conducts law enforcement patrols in relevant waters in accordance with the law, which is entirely justified and beyond reproach," said ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun.