China prepping to monitor Philippine-US coast guard drills

China Coast Guard vessel 5901. — PCG photo/www.sealight.live

MANILA: A 135-metre China Coast Guard (CCG) ship has inched closer to the Philippines, likely positioning itself to monitor an upcoming joint exercise by the Philippine and US coast guards, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said on Monday (July 15).

The Philippine and US coast guards have conducted capacity-building exercises in the West Philippine Sea in recent years and the presence of Chinese vessels were a common sight during those drills.