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.
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.
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.
Chinese research vessel spotted near Philippine coast but 'goes dark' after, says maritime expert, This news data comes from:http://www.705-888.com
As of posting time, Philippine authorities have yet to issue a statement on the reported movement of the Chinese vessel.
- Israeli protesters call for hostage deal ahead of cabinet meeting
- Nepal to block unregistered social media platforms – govt
- Maduro hits ‘illegal’ US troops deployment
- LPA east of Surigao del Sur may intensify into tropical depression
- US church shooter 'obsessed with idea of killing children'
- Trump moves to end US tariff exemption for small packages
- DOJ indicts Abra Mining for fraudulent trading
- Marcos opens Hyundai's shipyard in PH
- MMDA inks deal with DBM for G-3 program
- UN declares famine in Gaza, blames Israel
