The Philippines Coast Guard said it deployed an aircraft on Tuesday to challenge a Chinese research ship that serves as a base for submersible vessels after it was spotted about 19 nautical miles off the coast of northern Cagayan province. The pilot issued multiple radio challenges to the CRV Tan Suo Er Hao seeking to confirm whether it was conducting marine research without Manila’s consent, which would violate Philippine and international law, but received no response, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said in a statement. The 87.25‑metre deep‑sea research vessel, which left China’s Hainan province earlier this month and entered the western part of the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone, was then monitored heading east about 55.8 nautical miles off Santa Ana, Cagayan, the PCG said.

Full report : Philippines challenges Chinese vessel off northern province amid Taiwan tensions.