Philippine Coast Guard Pushes Chinese Vessel Further from Zambales Coast

In a display of maritime assertiveness, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) successfully maneuvered a larger Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel away from the Zambales coastline. The incident occurred on Friday, January 24, 2025, when the CCG swapped its vessel 3103 for the more formidable 3304. The PCG’s BRP Cabra was instrumental in pushing the new vessel to a safer distance of 85 to 90 nautical miles from the coast. By Saturday morning, the Chinese ship had moved to approximately 100 nautical miles away from Zambales, as reported by Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea. Tarriela suggested that the CCG’s choice of a larger vessel was an attempt to outmaneuver the PCG due to its size and speed advantages. Despite its size, the CCG 3304, which measures 111 meters in length and 46 meters in width, was continuously challenged by the PCG through hourly radio communications, highlighting the illegal presence of the Chinese vessel in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The steadfast actions of the BRP Cabra reflect the PCG’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea.