Officials trying to confirm Chinese survey ship in Reed Bank

August 7, 2020

A Chinese survey ship is at the Reed Bank, a news outfit tweeted on Thursday, and Philippine officials are trying to confirm its presence.

Indo-Pacific News said the vessel Xiang Xiang left China on July 22 and arrived at Reed Bank on August 6.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he is trying to confirm this.

"Not yet. Waiting from Wescom," Lorenzana told Daily Manila Shimbun when asked for confirmation about the reported presence of the Chinese survey ship.

Lorenzana is referring to the Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines which monitors and patrol the area.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said he is not aware of any permission allowing a Chinese survey vessel to enter the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, especially in the West Philippine Sea.

Locsin said he only knew there were  permission for a United States survey ship and a French vessel.

“I know there was permission for a US survey ship, then a French one though I can’t remember when was from the undiminishing pile of sheets on my table,” Locsin said in his Twitter post.

“What I know is there’s a little interest in marine surveys of SCS (South China Sea) by Western outfits. They don’t think much of the prospects in our neck of the woods” he added, in a separate tweet. Robina Asido/DMS