China's largest Coast Guard vessel has begun to sail away from the waters off Zambales after loitering there for four days, only to be replaced by another Chinese ship in what authorities call a calculated move to maintain Beijing's illegal presence in the area.

THE PHILIPPINES on Tuesday said it views with alarm the presence of China’s largest coast guard ship within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), vowing to continue sea patrols. “We view it with concern,

The Philippines has accused a giant Chinese coast guard vessel it dubbed as the “Monster” of maintaining an “illegal presence” in its exclusive economic zone as Beijing ramps up activities in the disputed South China Sea.

MANILA: China’s “monster ship” has left the coastline of Zambales, but another Chinese vessel is heading to the area it vacated, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Footage appears to show a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel reportedly trespassing into waters near a Philippine island. The CCG vessel was spotted sailing some 54 miles off the Capones Island in Zambales province on Saturday (4 January).

The PCG has been monitoring the "monster ship" since last Saturday, when it was spotted by the Dark Vessel Detection system 54 nautical miles off Capones Island in Zambales.

The presence of China's monster ship off the coast of Zambales since last Saturday, January 4, is an act of "intimidation, coercion, and aggression," according to the National Security Council.