MANILA, Philippines—The crew of a Chinese research ship that entered waters off Catanduanes province without clearance from the Philippine government refused access to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) men supposedly because of COVID-19 protocols.
Commodore Armand Balilo, PCG spokesperson, said a PCG boat was deployed to inspect Chinese ship Jia Geng which entered Philippine waters without Philippine government clearance last Jan. 29.
The PCG men were told they can’t board the Chinese vessel because of COVID-19 restrictions, according to Balilo.
The Chinese ship should be subject to Philippine port state control because it was inside municipal waters.
“The captain refused to…
Keep on reading: PH Coast Guard barred from boarding Chinese ship anchored off Catanduanes