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.
Chinese research vessel spotted near Philippine coast but 'goes dark' after, says maritime expert
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.
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., This news data comes from:http://gangzhifhm.com
As of posting time, Philippine authorities have yet to issue a statement on the reported movement of the Chinese vessel.
- UN watchdog finds uranium traces at suspected Syrian former nuclear site
- Israel launches new spy satellite in 'message' to enemies
- Duterte lawyers take aim at ICC prosecutor
- Heavy rain falls in parts of Southeast Asia after tropical storm blows into Vietnam
- Marcos willing to submit to a lifestyle check
- New Quezon City judge to oversee Dengvaxia vaccine cases, sets hearing
- Some National Guard units in Washington are now carrying firearms in escalation of Trump deployment
- Comelec probes 15 contractors for illegal campaign donations
- Canada removing tariffs on US goods compliant with free trade deal
- Chery Tiggo survives Creamline in cardiac five-setter in PVL Invitationals
