Manila Challenges Chinese Research Ship Off Batanes; Beijing Calls It Harassment

The Philippine Coast Guard (BRP Teresa Magbanua, with an Islander 251 aircraft) closed to within about 100 yards of Chinese research vessel Jia Hai Ke 7 roughly 38 nm northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, and deployed inflatable boats. The ship left Xiamen Sep 19 and was detected near Itbayat from Sep 22-24. Manila says it will keep driving the survey vessel out of Philippine waters; Beijing denounced the action as harassment of 'normal operations'.