Overview
- A Philippine Coast Guard surveillance plane challenged China’s Xiang Yang Hong 33 near Iroquois Reef, called Rozul Reef by Manila, as the ship carried out a marine survey.
- China’s coast guard said the aircraft harassed the vessel, said Chinese units tracked and monitored it, and warned the Philippines to stop what it called illegal harassment and smearing.
- The Philippines said the research was unauthorized under its rules, cited UNCLOS consent requirements for work in its exclusive economic zone, and reported the ship stationary about 7.34 nautical miles west of Rozul Reef with a service boat in the water.
- The same flight reported a large Chinese presence at sea, counting 13 maritime militia vessels near Iroquois Reef and 28 more at Cay 1 and Cay 2, with separate Chinese coast guard ships near the reef and near Pag-asa Island.
- Manila also pointed to satellite-tracking data showing the vessel left China in April and worked across several features it says fall within its exclusive economic zone, as both capitals signaled possible countermeasures in the Spratly Islands.