(UPDATE) THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has confirmed the recurring presence of three Chinese maritime scientific research ships operating within and near the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), sparking concerns over unauthorized activities in the country's waters.

The vessels, identified as Xiang Yang Hong 3, Jia Geng and Xiang Yang Hong 10, were initially detected on Nov.17, 2024, at 257 nautical miles northeast of Santa Ana, Cagayan. While this is outside the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile EEZ, subsequent monitoring revealed their encroachment into Philippine waters.