Philippine Coast Guard Expels Chinese Research Vessel from Batanes

The Philippine Coast Guard expelled the Chinese research vessel Jia Hai Ke 7 from the Philippines' exclusive economic zone off Itbayat, Batanes, on October 1, 2026. The operation involved the deployment of the BRP Teresa Magbanua, the agency's largest vessel, along with a rigid-hull inflatable boat and an Islander aircraft. The Jia Hai Ke 7 had been loitering in the area since September 28, allegedly spoofing its Automatic Identification System to conceal its location while conducting unauthorized marine scientific research.

During the encounter, the BRP Teresa Magbanua closed to within 100 yards of the research ship and issued radio challenges. The situation escalated when the China Coast Guard vessel CCG-2503 intervened to shield the Jia Hai Ke 7. Philippine officials questioned why a government law enforcement ship was protecting a privately owned vessel, suggesting the research ship was working for the Chinese government to collect data near critical undersea cable corridors in the Luzon Strait.

The Jia Hai Ke 7 retreated at approximately 11:42 a.m. following sustained pressure. The Chinese Embassy in Manila defended the operation, claiming the vessel was conducting normal operations in waters under China's jurisdiction. Simultaneously, the Philippines rejected calls from China at the 81st UN General Assembly to stop raising the maritime dispute, asserting that there is no legal basis for China's expansive claims under UNCLOS.