Chinese Embassy, Philippine Coast Guard Clash Over "Research Vessel" Incident at Rozul Reef

Article by Marie D.

Published on May 12, 2026 7:00AM

Quezon City, Philippines – Tensions escalated in the West Philippine Sea as the Chinese Embassy accused Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Spokesperson Jay Tarriela of promoting a "false narrative" about a Chinese research vessel near Rozul Reef (also known as Houteng Reef or Iroquois Reef), while Tarriela countered that China admitted to illegal activities in Philippine waters. ¹

Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei stated that the reef forms part of China's jurisdiction. He said the vessel Xiang Yang Hong 33 performed legitimate ecological surveys, but PCG aircraft harassed it at close range, breaching the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and risking accidents. Guo cited an attached video and described China Coast Guard actions as professional monitoring for vessel safety. ¹ He criticized Tarriela as ignoring disputes and likened him to "an ostrich burying its head in the sand," urging cooperation under UNCLOS Article 123 for joint research. ²

Tarriela rebutted that the embassy's statement confirms Xiangyanghong 33 operated without consent near Recto Bank (Reed Bank) within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf. Citing UNCLOS Article 246, he argued marine scientific research in a coastal state's EEZ requires that state's approval, which China lacks. He called China Coast Guard presence as unlawful and lacking jurisdiction. ² ³ ⁴

Tarriela affirmed the PCG's Islander aircraft conducted routine maritime domain awareness (MDA) flights, not harassment, to monitor unauthorized activity. He referenced the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) award rejecting China's nine-dash line, historic rights, and claims over Recto Bank, which falls in the Philippines' EEZ. ³ ⁴

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Notes:

¹ Guo Wei's statement via the Chinese Embassy website. ph.china-embassy.gov

² Jay Tarriela's PCG rebuttal, echoed in reports on harassment claims and UNCLOS violations. gmanetwork. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/902853/pcg-ph-vessels-at-rozul-reef-harassed-by-china-coast-guard/story

³ UNCLOS Articles 123 and 246 provisions on cooperation and research consent. https://sites.google.com/mail.fsi.gov.ph/breakingwaves/scs-arbitration/key-findings

⁴ 2016 Arbitral Award rulings on nine-dash line, EEZ entitlements, and Recto Bank status. globalchallenges. https://globalchallenges.ch/issue/1/legal-victory-for-the-philippines-against-china-a-case-study/