The Philippine Coast Guard has challenged Chinese research activities near Hubo Reef, with spokesperson Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela saying Beijing failed to obtain Philippine consent and rejecting the Chinese Embassy’s assertion of jurisdiction over the area.
In remarks issued on the evening of 11 October and reported by DZRH the following day, Tarriela disputed China’s defence of operations near Hubo Reef, Escoda Shoal and Katimugan Bank. The embassy had accused Philippine authorities of interfering with the vessel’s activities.
The vessel, Tan Suo Yi Hao, was monitored during a Philippine surveillance flight on 11 October. According to Coast Guard information reported by Republika News, it had declared diving operations through its automatic identification system. Philippine personnel reported receiving no response to radio challenges.
However, the Coast Guard also said its aircrew saw no deployed submersible, equipment or lines in the water during the overflight. The observations therefore did not establish precisely what underwater work, if any, was occurring at that moment.
According to DZRH’s account, the Chinese Embassy maintained that the ship was conducting scheduled scientific work in waters under Chinese jurisdiction. It described Chinese research as contributing to environmental protection and disaster prevention, while characterising nearby naval and coast guard activities as routine.
Tarriela countered that the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs had confirmed China did not seek consent. He also argued that seabed information could have resource and military significance. That concern does not, by itself, establish a military purpose for this particular operation.
The legal framework distinguishes marine scientific research from ordinary navigation. Article 246 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea requires coastal-state consent for marine scientific research within its exclusive economic zone or on its continental shelf. It also provides that consent should normally be granted for qualifying peaceful research and should not be unreasonably delayed or denied.
An exclusive economic zone does not confer the same comprehensive sovereignty as territorial waters. It gives the coastal state specified rights over resources and jurisdiction over activities including marine scientific research, while preserving other states’ navigation rights.
The Philippine Coast Guard said it would continue monitoring the vessel and coordinate with foreign-affairs officials on further action. The exchange highlights the continuing disagreement over maritime jurisdiction and the conditions under which research may proceed in the South China Sea.
