“The PCG’s response reflects an important principle of Philippine maritime governance: protecting our rights does not require unnecessary confrontation. It requires vigilance, sound judgment, professional conduct, and steadfast commitment to the rule of law.
“Through sustained monitoring and the deployment of BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701), supported by maritime surveillance assets, the PCG demonstrated the government’s resolve to protect Philippine maritime rights through coordinated, measured, and lawful action” (GMA News, October 4, 2026).
Maritime security
This is the statement of a body called the National Maritime Council. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. formed the NMC in 2024 by renaming and reorganizing the National Coast Watch Council. The new Council has jurisdiction over “all issues affecting the country’s maritime security and domain awareness.”
The Philippine Coast Guard had responded to the intrusion of the Chinese research vessel JIA HAI KE 7 “approximately 38 nautical miles northwest of Itbayat, well within the Philippines’ EEZ,” spotted on September 28.
A PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela stated that a PCG aircraft radio-challenged the vessel multiple times, asserting the Philippines’ sovereign rights while advising the ship to declare its intentions and cease any unauthorized activities.
However, the Chinese vessel did not respond to the radio challenges.
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that the Chinese research is being conducted without the consent of the Philippines, which is required under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The Council called on China to immediately cease its unauthorized activities within Philippine waters and adhere to international law, including UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
And that’s it, according to this particular GMA news report.
But according to an earlier report, by The Philippine Star (October 2, 2026), “PCG drives away Chinese research vessel off Batanes.” The Star says that Chinese research vessel Jia Hai Ke 7 “retreated from the waters of Itbayat, Batanes yesterday after ‘sustained pressure’ from the Philippine Coast Guard.”
Going, going…
As of that October 2 report, although the Jia Hai Ke 7 was retreating, it was still within the Philippines’s exclusive economic zone. I can’t find any report in Philippine media stating that the Jia Hai Ke 7 is now definitely out of the EEZ. It may be.
The Philippine Coast Guard noted that the Jia Hai Ke 7 had been “stationed off critical submarine cable corridors for four days. It added that the marine research vessel spoofed the Automatic Identification System to conceal its movements.” What can be done in four days to map the locations of seafloor cables is probably a lot.
