Ginakumpirma sang Philippine Navy nga nakalayag sa kadagatan nga sakop sang Palawan ang isa sa pinakadaku sa research vessels sang China.
Suno kay Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, ini nga Chinese research vessel Lan Hai 101 ang natumod sang Littoral Monitoring Station (LMS) Melville nga amo ang nag-isyu sang challenge.
Nagsabat man ang vessel nga nagsaylo sila sang ruta sa eastern waters sang Palawan bangud malain ang kondisyon sang dagat sa western side. Nagpasalig man ini nga magpadayon sa paglayag samtang nagasunod sa rights of innocent passage sa Philippine archipelagic sea lanes.
“They assured that the vessel would continue its transit while adhering to the rights of innocent passage through the Philippine archipelagic sea lanes, opting to exit near Coron, Palawan,” suno kay Trinidad.
Nag-deploy naman ang Western Command sang Philippine Navy vessel BRP Andres Bonifacio kaupod sa Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Melchora Aquino para mabantayan ang Lan Hai 101.
“The deployment of naval and coast guard assets serves as a testament to the collaborative approach in addressing maritime challenges,” dugang ni Trinidad.
Antes ang kumpirmasyon sang Navy, si former US Air Force official kag former defense attaché Ray Powell ang nag-post sa X kaangot sa presensya sang barko.
“The Lan Hai 101, one of China’s two largest fisheries research ships, is now transiting the Philippines’ archipelagic waters. It appears to be en route to the Philippine Sea,” kabahin sang post sini.#
