Image of the Chinese research vessel, the Shen Kuo inside Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone taken during Philippine Air Force April 27th maritime patrol (Photo: X/Armed Forces of the Philippines)
INDO-PACIFIC
Philippine Research Vessel Continues to Loiter Inside Philippine EEZ
On May 1st, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) announced they would dispatch a vessel to intercept the Chinese research vessel, the Shen Kuo, currently loitering about 30 miles (48 km) east of the coast of Samar Island in the eastern Philippines. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported the vessel was first sighted on April 25th, approximately 70 miles (113 km) east of Rapu-Rapu Island, Albay province.