Philippines challenge ‘Monster’ China coast guard cutter, USS Vinson drills with Philippine forces in South China Sea
USNI News
By Aaron-Matthew Lariosa
20 January 2025
China Coast Guard Cutter 5901 also known as the ‘Monster’ on Jan. 12, 2025. Philippine Coast Guard Photo
The Philippine Coast Guard has entered its third week of actively challenging its Chinese counterparts, including a 12,000-ton “monster” China Coast Guard cutter within the country’s exclusive economic zone off Western Luzon.
Agency patrol vessels and aircraft were deployed to shadow the China Coast Guard vessel 5901 Nansha after detecting the vessel via a Canadian-provided maritime security system on January 4.
Since then, the Zhaotou-class large patrol ship’s persistent presence in the area has been maintained by CCG cutters 3103 and 3304. A People’s Liberation Army Navy helicopter was also reported by the Philippine Coast Guard to have overflown the area of Nansha.
In response, Manila has deployed a Coast Guard Cessna aircraft, BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409), BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) and BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) to monitor and actively challenge the Chinese vessels.
All encounters with the monster ship 5901 and other China Coast Guard vessels have taken place within 70 nautical miles off Luzon, well within the Philippine exclusive economic zone as well as Beijing’s Nine Dash Line claim.
Local media reported that agency flagship Teresa Magbanua had to return to port after its auxiliary engines overheated on patrol. Despite the set backs, Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Concerns, stressed that Manila could not back down.
“If we fail to challenge this, China will succeed in establishing a precedent for its maritime forces’ illegal patrols in the future. Therefore, no matter how long it takes, the PCG vessels will always be present to prevent China from changing the status quo,” said Tarriela.
Compared to Beijing’s larger and more capable fleet, the Philippine Coast Guard fields 13 oceangoing patrol assets received from Japan and France via official development assistance loans. Further assistance projects, including 40 patrol boats funded by Paris and seven 97-meter-long cutters built by Tokyo, are expected to increase the fleet size within the next decade.
Meanwhile, the Carl Vinson carrier strike group, composed of USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), USS Sterett (DDG-104) and USS Princeton (CG-65), joined the Philippine Navy in 2025’s first joint patrol between the two countries in the South China Sea for the first time from Jan. 17 to 18.
Manila sent BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) and BRP Andrés Bonifacio (PS-17) to join the drills.
Both countries also launched aircraft, including two F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, two FA-50PH Fighting Eagles, a P-8A Poseidon and three helicopters. Aside from the usual division tactics held during previous joint patrols, the formation also conducted dissimilar aircraft combat training.
These activities marked the fifth bilateral patrol to be held between Washington and Manila since 2023 in the South China Sea.