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.
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.
As of posting time, Philippine authorities have yet to issue a statement on the reported movement of the Chinese vessel., This news data comes from:http://www.xs888999.com
Chinese research vessel spotted near Philippine coast but 'goes dark' after, says maritime expert
- Discaya’s construction companies competed against each other during biddings
- 'Strangest' dinosaur covered in spiked armory – scientists
- DILG denies claims ex-PNP chief ousted over firearms purchase
- Summer brings overtourism fears for 'Bavarian Caribbean'
- Makati distributes Blu Card cash aid
- Taiwan: China illegally deploying oil rigs in our waters
- 'Blood Moon' to rise during total lunar eclipse Sunday night
- SpaceX cancels Starship megarocket launch
- Protesters storm Discaya office in Pasig to demand accountability for 'ghost flood control projects'
- DPWH exec fired, 2 others face dismissal over flood control mess
