A vessel of the China Coast Guard (3304) is seen in the waters off the coastline of Zambales on Friday, January 24, 2025, according to the Philippine Coast Guard. The BRP Cabra of the PCG issued radio challenges to notify the CCG that it was within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone. PCG

Three China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels spotted passing near Batanes with a “very unusual track for CCG–not clear where they’re headed,” according to a maritime security expert.

In a post, former US Air Force official and ex-defense attaché Ray Powell initially reported that CCG 3301, 3304, and 4304 were seen moving northwest near Batanes on Wednesday.

Powell then said in an update that CCG 3301 and 3304 on Thursday morning were moving northwest through the Bashi Channel between Batanes and Taiwan, while CCG 4304 was patrolling 70 nautical miles (nm) west of Batanes.

“More strange Chinese vessel activity near the Philippines’ northern Batanes province today,” Powell said.

“Even as two CCG ships were moving through the Bashi Channel (see above post), two large ‘fishing’ ships also passed through. One of them—the Min Fu Ding Yu 09708—broke off and veered south between 6:30-8:30am to come just outside the Philippines’ 12-nm territorial sea,” he added.

The development comes days after the PCG expressed alarm over the “significant increase” of Chinese research vessels within the Philippine exclusive economic zone this year.

The PCG cited the presence of the Xiang Yang Hong 05, seen approximately 37 nautical miles off the coast of Sta. Ana, Cagayan also in northern Luzon. The ship was one of at least four Chinese research vessels spotted in July, according to the PCG.

Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.