Chinese vessel conducts survey near Palawan without permission

A Chinese survey and research vessel, accompanied by six maritime militia ships, was spotted near Palawan island on Monday.

Ray Powell, director of SeaLight at Stanford University's Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, noted that China is conducting a 'survey-in-force' just 27 nautical miles from the Philippines' coastline.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has now dispatched a ship to shadow the Chinese vessel as part of an ongoing patrol mission in coordination with the Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Coast Guard Comm. Jay Tarriela confirmed that the Chinese mission sailed within 25 nautical miles of Palawan's coastline without permission from the Philippine government, stressing the need for coordinated monitoring and preventive measures.

The area lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone where foreign vessels have rights to navigation and overflight but require consent for activities like surveying or exploration.