The Philippines has accused China of employing intimidation tactics against its fishermen in the disputed South China Sea, escalating concerns over Beijing's attempts to normalise its "illegal presence" in the region. This accusation follows the deployment of China's largest coast guard vessel, the 165-meter-long "monster ship" 5901, into the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The vessel was last observed 77 nautical miles off Zambales, a province on the western coast.

These developments occur amid heightened tensions between the Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally, and China over overlapping territorial claims in this strategically vital and resource-rich waterway. The Philippines' National Security Council has reiterated its demand for China to withdraw from Manila's waters, particularly around the contested Scarborough Shoal, emphasising the ship’s intimidating impact on local fishermen.

"We were surprised about the increasing aggression being showed by the People's Republic of China in deploying the monster ship," Malaya told a press conference.

"It is an escalation and provocative," Malaya added, calling the presence of the vessel "illegal" and "unacceptable".

"It is also a clear attempt to intimidate our fishermen and deprive them of their legitimate livelihood."

China's embassy in Manila said the shoal, which it calls "Huangyan Dao", is China's territory, and its actions are in "full accordance with the law".

"It is fully justified," the embassy said in a statement.

Since China seized control of the Scarborough Shoal in 2012 following a standoff with the Philippines, it has maintained a continuous coast guard presence to patrol the area. However, recent actions by China have raised significant concerns, as its coast guard vessels have advanced closer to the Philippine coastline, according to Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson for the Philippines' National Security Council.

In response to the situation, the Philippine Coast Guard deployed two of its largest vessels to confront the Chinese ship. A spokesperson for the Coast Guard emphasised that the presence of this "monster ship" appears to be an attempt by China to normalise its "illegal deployment" of coast guard vessels within Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The move reflects ongoing efforts to assert sovereignty and protect local fishermen operating in the region.

China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, a critical shipping route facilitating approximately $3 trillion in annual global trade, overlap with the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of several Southeast Asian nations, including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Despite these overlapping claims, a landmark 2016 ruling by an international tribunal declared that China’s assertions over vast portions of the disputed waterway had no legal basis under international law. However, Beijing has consistently rejected this ruling and continues to assert its dominance in the region, exacerbating tensions with neighbouring countries.