China ship ‘shadowing’ research vessel in WPS

MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese coast guard vessel has been shadowing a research vessel deployed last month by the Filipino and Taiwanese scientists inside the Philippine’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea.

Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines (UP) Institute of Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, said the Chinese coast guard vessel CCG 5203 was still shadowing the RV Legend as shown by a screenshot of the interface of Marine Traffic website as of 6 a.m