The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has reported the detection of three Chinese research ships currently operating in the West Philippine Sea. The Chinese vessel Bei Diao 996 was found about 40 nautical miles west of Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal. Meanwhile, Xiang Yang Hong 10 and Zhuhai Yun were spotted 195 nautical miles off the coast of Rizal, Palawan. These ships left their ports in Guangdong province, China, in mid-June 2025.
According to PCG spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela, the ships were detected using the Dark Vessel Detection Program provided by the Canadian government. The agency suspects that Bei Diao 996 is conducting illegal marine scientific research near Panatag Shoal, while the other two vessels appear to be involved in similar activities near Balagtas Reef.
The Bei Diao 996 is noteworthy as it is China’s largest test ship for deep-sea operations and is considered the world’s largest SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) catamaran. This vessel is optimized for stable performance in adverse weather and is specialized in testing underwater acoustics and sonar equipment. On the other hand, Xiang Yang Hong 10 is equipped for deep-sea surveys and supports unmanned autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for tasks such as seafloor mapping and environmental monitoring. Zhuhai Yun, described as the world’s first intelligent unmanned drone carrier, is intended for oceanographic research but has significant military applications, including mapping submarine routes and deploying smart mines.
In response to the presence of these vessels, PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan has instructed personnel to intercept and challenge these ships as they operate within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, which extends 200 nautical miles from the coast.