The Philippines has accused a giant Chinese coast guard vessel it dubbed as the “Monster” of maintaining an “illegal presence” in its exclusive economic zone as Beijing ramps up activities in the disputed South China Sea.

CCG 5901 had already left the coastline off the Philippine province of Zambales, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

The Philippines calls the presence of a Chinese 'monster' ship off its coast an act of aggression::Philippine Coast Guard::January 5, 2025::South China Sea::The Chinese ship said it was within its own 'jurisdictional waters'According to video released by the Philippine coast guard,

CHINA’S biggest coast guard vessel has left the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea and was set to be replaced by another ship, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Wednesday.

China's largest Coast Guard vessel has begun to sail away from the waters off Zambales after loitering there for four days, only to be replaced by another Chinese ship in what authorities call a calculated move to maintain Beijing's illegal presence in the area.

Beijing has repeatedly asserted its jurisdiction over Scarborough Shoal, which lies within Manila’s exclusive economic zone.

China has accused the Philippines of repeated encroachment in its waters. China with its largest navy in the world claims most of the South China Sea, a key conduit for $3 trillion of annual ship-borne trade, as its own territory, with a massive coast guard presence in and around the EEZs of neighbours Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

China’s increasing presence in the South China Sea has sparked concern among neighboring nations. Last month, Beijing conducted large-scale military drills near Scarborough Shoa

A Chinese navy helicopter hovered over a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel as China's monster ship lingered in Philippine waters. Footage shows the People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) aircraft with tail number 47 circling above the PCG BRP Cabra monitoring the gargantuan China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901 some 70 nautical miles off Zambales province on January 7.

The PCG has been monitoring the "monster ship" since last Saturday, when it was spotted by the Dark Vessel Detection system 54 nautical miles off Capones Island in Zambales.