The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that they "haven't monitored any illegal activities" from the Chinese research vessel Song Hang within Philippines’ archipelagic waters.

In a press briefing on Thursday. PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said that in a radio challenge inquiry with BRP Malapascua, the Chinese research vessel Song Hang reiterated their intention to pass through the Sibutu Passage en route to the Indian Ocean to conduct fishing activities.

"Well I don't want to speculate if they are justifying their insistence in invoking their right of innocent passage. But with regard to the Philippine Coast Guard's (PCG's) monitoring we haven't monitored any illegal activities that shows that they are taking advantage of such a right", Tariella said.

Initially the PCG sent an aircraft on Wednesday to challenge the presence of the Chinese research vessel but it failed to receive a response.

"At 7am today, the BRP Malapascua issued another radio challenge to verify the vessel’s intentions once again. The crew of the Song Hang reiterated their destination as the Indian Ocean, adding that their purpose is to conduct fishing activities there", Tariella said in a statement from his X account.

Tariella added that 25 Chinese nationals are on board at the Song Hang

As of 12pm the research vessel was located at a distance of 35.5 nautical miles from Mapun Island. It is expected to depart the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) within the day. Marie Manalili/DMS