China Deploys ‘Monster Ship’ to Territory Disputed by US Ally

A Chinese Coast Guard ship, known as the “monster ship” due to its size, which is one of the two largest law-enforcement vessels in the world, was deployed to a disputed South China Sea reef in the maritime zone of the Philippines, a security ally of the United States. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese and the Philippine military for comment by email. ??”The Monster”–the 12K-ton China Coast Guard 5901–arrived at Scarborough Shoal on Jan 1, joining CCG 3106, 3302, 3305 & at least 7 militia ships, further boosting #China’s control over this important fishing ground just 120nm from the ??#Philippines’ coast. pic.twitter.com/OHxPsOJuzf — Ray Powell (@GordianKnotRay) January 2, 2025 Why It Matters China claims nearly all maritime features in the South China Sea, clashing with those of other regional nations, including Scarborough Shoal, the deployment location of the 5901. It is known in China as Huangyan Island and in the Philippines as Bajo de Masinloc. The reef, a fishing ground within the 230-mile Philippine economic zone, was seized by China in 2012 following a standoff between two nations. It is 140 miles west of Luzon Island in the Philippines and 700 miles from China’s nearest province of Hainan. What To Know The 12,000-ton and 541-foot-long Chinese ship, which has a hull number of 5901, is also armed with guns. It and its sister ship, the 2901, have advantages over other nations’ coast guard ships in endurance, collision resistance, seaworthiness, and speed. The 5901 arrived at Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday, according to Ray Powell, director of the Stanford University-affiliated maritime monitoring group Sealight. It joined three other Chinese Coast Guard ships, as well as at least seven Chinese maritime militia ships. The Pentagon says that China’s Coast Guard has the largest maritime law enforcement fleet in the world, with over 150 vessels that are more than 1,000 tons, while the Chinese maritime militia assists the country’s navy and Coast Guard in asserting maritime claims. Throughout 2023, China sent its navy, Coast Guard, maritime militia, and civilian ships to advance its illegal maritime claims in the South China Sea, including Scarborough Shoal, the Pentagon said in its Chinese military power report, which was released in December 2024. This was not the first time the 5901, stationed in its assigned area of responsibility in the South China Sea, was sent to the disputed waters in the region. In August last year, it encountered a Canadian warship during the latter’s patrol near China’s artificial islands. The deployment of the Chinese “monster” Coast Guard ship came after the Chinese military on Sunday deployed its naval and air forces for “combat readiness patrols” at Scarborough Shoal, following its Coast Guard counterpart’s “law enforcement patrols” in the same area. A Chinese Coast Guard ship with hull number of 5901 sails in the South China Sea on June 24, 2024. The 12,000-ton 5901 is one of the two largest law-enforcement vessels in the world. A Chinese Coast Guard ship with hull number of 5901 sails in the South China Sea on June 24, 2024. The 12,000-ton 5901 is one of the two largest law-enforcement vessels in the world. Philippine Coast Guard What People Are Saying Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for Chinese Defense Ministry, said at a press conference on December 26, 2024: “The maritime disputes between China and the Philippines have nothing to do with the size of countries. Rather, it is the merits of fact that matter.” Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for Philippine Coast Guard, said in a X (formerly Twitter) post on Thursday: “[The] Philippines is not playing the victim in the West Philippine Sea [waters in the South China Sea that fall within the Philippine economic zone]; rather, it is China that is victimizing Southeast Asian nations in the South China Sea.” What Happens Next China is likely to continue and increase its presence in the South China Sea by rotating its ships from the navy, Coast Guard, and maritime militia. It remains to be seen whether the U.S. will patrol the contested waters with a naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier.