Footage from the Philippine Coast Guard shows Chinese research vessel Jia Hai Ke 7 was still loitering within the waters of Batanes on Thursday, October 1. Screengrab from PCG video.
Anna Mogato | October 2, 2026
MANILA — The foreign affairs ministry rejected “firmly and strongly” China’s claim to having sovereign rights over the waters off Batanes, sending survey ships to the country’s northernmost territory.
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) called on China to respect the Philippines’ sovereign rights and stop encroaching on Philippine sovereign waters under international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“We strongly call on China to fulfill its obligations under international law and avoid actions that are counter-productive and undermine efforts to rebuild mutual trust,” the DFA said, in response to a Chinese embassy statement claiming sovereign rights on the waters off Batanes.
“The Philippines will continue to uphold the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its EEZ peacefully and responsibly in accordance with international law.”
In a statement, the Chinese embassy claimed a private research vessel, Jia Hai Ke 7, was found operating in waters within China’s jurisdiction in northern Luzon.
But the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) monitored Jia Hai Ke 7 loitering about 38 nautical miles northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, part of the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone. The Coast Guard vessel challenged the Chinese research ship over radio but went unanswered.
The DFA said the Philippine Coast Guard “was conducting lawful and routine law enforcement operations in response to a suspected unauthorized Marine Scientific Research (MSR) activity in the waters off Batanes.”
Further, the DFA added that it did not receive any request from China to conduct research within the country’s EEZ; thus, no consent has been given for Jia Hai Kei 7 to conduct maritime survey and research near Batanes.
The military’s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Retired Rear Admiral Roy Trinidad, accused China of continuing to raise tensions in the South China Sea.
On October 1, the PCG drove out a Chinese militia vessel and 24 small fishing boats found loitering in Kota Island, part of the Kalayaan Island Group.
Days earlier, eight Chinese vessels harassed and blocked a civilian vessel and its escorts en route to BRP Sierra Madre for a routine Rotation and Resupply (RORE) mission.
The Philippine vessels had to call off their humanitarian mission due to the harassment.