The Monster,” China’s biggest coast guard ship, has moved away from Zambales province although a “replacement vessel” has taken its place.

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.

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).

A new China Coast Guard (CCG) ship is on its way to Philippine waters as CCG vessel 5901— dubbed the monster ship for its size — departed the coastline of Zambales Wednesday. In a statement, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS),

A Philippine Coast Guard patrol ship issued a radio challenge to Chinese vessels off Zambales province due to their illegal presence in the West Philippine Sea.

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.

A Chinese navy helicopter hovered over a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel as China's monster ship lingered in Philippine waters. Footage shows the People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) aircraft with tail number 47 circling above the PCG BRP Cabra monitoring the gargantuan China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901 some 70 nautical miles off Zambales province on January 7.

Observers interpret the presence of the 165-metre vessel near Scarborough Shoal as a warning to Manila about its military ties with the US.