CAPONES ISLAND, Zambales — It what appeared LIKE a 'David and Goliath' confrontation, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) offshore patrol vessel, BRP Gabriela Silang, surprisingly was able to compel China's 'Monster Ship' to stay away from the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Following several days of monitoring that showed China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901, the world’s largest coast guard patrol ship at 165-meters long, cruising within the country’s EEZ, BRP Gabriela Silang stepped into action to intercept and challenge the larger Chinese vessel and compel it to move away at least 70 nautical miles from the Zambales coastline.

In forcing the CCG to sail farther, the PCG emphasized its unwavering commitment to asserting the Philippines' sovereign rights, a stance supported by domestic legislation and international maritime law.

In a series of radio communications, BRP Gabriela Silang reminded the CCG's 'Monster Ship' that its presence in Philippine waters violates the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award—which invalidated China's sweeping claims over the South China Sea.

The PCG asserted that while freedom of navigation was a recognized right, it did not extend to unlawful patrols or coercive activities within another nation's EEZ,even as it stressed that "if China genuinely seeks de-escalation and mutual trust, it must respect (Philippine) sovereign rights."