00:00China sent a military helicopter to BRP Cabra
00:04to guard the so-called China's monster ship in the West Philippine Sea.
00:09The monster ship was sent to Zambales
00:13but was replaced by another ship of the China Coast Guard.
00:18Chino Gaston was on the scene.
00:24The so-called China's monster ship of the China Coast Guard
00:29The CCG 5901 was called a monster ship
00:32because of its large 12,000 gross registered tons.
00:36But the China Coast Guard Vessel 3103 immediately returned here.
00:41China Coast Guard 5901 left
00:43but initially we thought it is leaving for good.
00:47And then eventually we realized this morning
00:50that it is not a total departure of the China Coast Guard.
00:55It is just going to be replaced.
00:57The government is in charge of maintaining the monster ship
01:00inside the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines.
01:03In the last monitoring of the Philippine Coast Guard,
01:05it is at 30 nautical miles from Bajo, Dimasinlo.
01:09The Philippine Coast Guard's BRP Cabra has been monitoring it for three days.
01:13Yesterday, while the monster ship was being monitored,
01:16a military helicopter of the People's Liberation Army Navy approached
01:21and hovered or remained above the BRP Cabra
01:24for more than less than 20 minutes.
01:27This is not the first time that a military helicopter flew over China
01:31to harass the ships of the PCG.
01:33In December, a Chinese warship also joined the Philippine ships
01:38in Bajo, Dimasinlo.
01:41The National Maritime Council said
01:43that this is not yet a sufficient reason to face the Philippine Navy
01:47so that tensions will not escalate.
01:50We have always measured response
01:53in carrying out maritime law enforcement
01:56and also in challenging the unlawful presence of the Chinese Coast Guard.
02:02This just goes to show that it is the Chinese government
02:05that is escalating the tension that they are provoking us.
02:10Because of the bad weather, the bigger BRP, Teresa Magbanua,
02:13will replace the BRP Cabra
02:16to monitor Bajo, Dimasinlo.
02:18We are still trying to get a statement from China about the incident,
02:22but they insisted that the patrolling and law enforcement activities
02:26of their Coast Guard should be in accordance with the law.
02:30For GMA Integrated News, Chino Gaston, Akatutok, 24 Hours.
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