The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Wednesday a Chinese research vessel was spotted near Aborlan, Palawan.

PCG Commodore for the West Philippine Sea Jay Tarriela told a forum that the vessel was spotted 58 nautical miles east of Aborlan, Palawan as of eight in the morning.

The PCG sent an aircraft to challenge the presence of the Chinese research vessel but it has not yet received a response.

“We are still doing this MDA (maritime domain awareness) flight as we monitor the presence of this Chinese research vessel. We are challenging them because they are not authorized to carry out marine scientific research and that they are advised to leave the area,” Tarriela said.

SeaLight Director Ray Powell said in a social media post on Tuesday that the fisheries research vessel Song Hang was transiting in Philippines’ archipelagic waters on its way south toward the Celebes Sea.

The PCG has previously monitored Lan Hai 101, a large Chinese fisheries research ship that transited inside the country’s archipelagic waters last February. Yzabela Velez-White/DMS