MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday challenged China to publicly release the data gathered during what Beijing described as a completed scientific research mission at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, saying such information should be shared if the work was truly intended to benefit environmental conservation.
PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela issued the challenge after the Chinese embassy acknowledged that a floating platform recently monitored at Panatag was operated by a Chinese research institute conducting scientific research.
According to Tarriela, the embassy also indicated that the mission had been completed.
“If what they did was really for the conservation or preservation of the environment and for the benefit of the world, it would be a good idea for the Chinese Embassy to share with us the data they obtained,” Tarriela told reporters in a chance interview in Pasay City.
READ: PH says Chinese floating structure removed from Panatag Shoal
The Coast Guard official maintained that the research activity was unauthorized, saying only the Philippines has the legal right to conduct marine scientific research at Panatag.
Tarriela’s remarks came after Philippine authorities confirmed the removal of a floating platform that had been monitored near the disputed shoal and had prompted Manila to file a diplomatic protest.
Tarriela referred to a statement issued Tuesday evening by the Chinese embassy in Manila, which said the scientific research mission conducted through the floating platform had been “successfully completed.”
Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei said the platform was a temporary scientific research facility established by the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
He said it served as a floating sampling and experimental platform intended to study the ecosystem of Panatag Shoal, which Beijing calls Huangyan Dao, and provide support for environmental protection efforts.
The embassy also defended the activity as a legitimate exercise of China’s sovereignty, asserting that the shoal is Chinese territory and that scientific research conducted there is consistent with international law.
It urged the Philippines to stop “hyping up and politicizing” what it described as China’s normal scientific research activities and instead pursue dialogue to manage maritime issues.
READ: West PH Sea: AFP warns Chinese research in Panatag may have military use
Tarriela said a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Philippine Coast Guard on Tuesday documented the Chinese research vessel Yue Zhang Yu Ke 6 dismantling the floating platform and loading it onto its stern.
Throughout the flight, Philippine authorities repeatedly challenged what they described as the vessel’s illegal marine scientific research activities.
Tarriela said another MDA flight conducted Wednesday using a Philippine Coast Guard Cessna Caravan aircraft confirmed that the platform was no longer present within Bajo de Masinloc.
He added that the Yue Zhan Yu Ke 6, which had been observed towing the platform near the shoal on Monday and loading its dismantled components on Tuesday, was also no longer in the vicinity of the shoal.
Remaining inside the shoal during Thursday’s patrol was another, smaller Chinese research vessel, Yue Xia Yu Zhi 20028, according to Tarriela.
While some observers have suggested the platform may have been used to test Philippine reactions or support broader Chinese activities in the area, Tarriela declined to speculate on Beijing’s motives.
“I don’t want to speculate on what they really wanted to do there,” he said.
“For us, we address the illegal actions of the People’s Republic of China as they come.”
He added that Philippine authorities would continue exposing and documenting activities in the West Philippine Sea through maritime patrols and surveillance operations.
Philippine officials have repeatedly asserted that Bajo de Masinloc, the local name of Scarborough Shoal, falls within the country’s exclusive economic zone and have cited the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea.
Philippine authorities will continue maritime domain awareness flights and patrols in the area, Tarriela said. /das
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