NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Zambales Locals Have A New Reason To Worry About Dredging: Chinese AIS Spoofing In The Spotlight
Photo credit: PCG
For folks in Zambales already frustrated with ongoing dredging activities in their waters, there’s now another alarming twist. Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Spokesperson Jay Tarriela just dropped a bombshell on social media, revealing that the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) is allegedly engaging in AIS spoofing—a sneaky tactic that could be misleading authorities and causing public panic.
For those wondering, AIS (Automatic Identification System) is a global tool used to track ships and ensure maritime safety. The system is crucial for preventing collisions and for identifying vessels. However, Tarriela pointed out that China seems to be flipping this safety feature on its head by exploiting it to disguise their ships’ activities.
According to Tarriela, the CCG-21543 vessel’s “recorded routes” over the past 60 days don’t make sense. The ship’s reported movements are so unrealistic that it’s “highly probable” the Chinese are hijacking AIS signals from other ships. The kicker? He suggested that dredgers operating in the Philippines could be part of this scheme.
This raises an even bigger concern for Zambales residents already wary of dredging operations in the area. Are these dredgers—often linked to environmental damage—now doubling as tools for maritime signal manipulation? If so, this could not only harm local ecosystems and livelihoods but also heighten geopolitical tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
To make matters worse, Tarriela didn’t hold back when calling out China’s actions, emphasizing that they’re disregarding international agreements like the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, which requires proper AIS use for certain vessels. By compromising AIS signals, Tarriela pointed out that China is ironically undermining maritime safety—one of the core responsibilities of a coast guard.
For now, Zambales residents have more questions than answers. Could their waters be playing host to vessels involved in AIS manipulation? And if dredgers are indeed part of this, how far-reaching is this operation?
As this story unfolds, one thing’s clear: the fight over the West Philippine Sea isn’t just about territory—it’s becoming a battle of signals, ships, and trust on the high seas.
For those wondering, AIS (Automatic Identification System) is a global tool used to track ships and ensure maritime safety. The system is crucial for preventing collisions and for identifying vessels. However, Tarriela pointed out that China seems to be flipping this safety feature on its head by exploiting it to disguise their ships’ activities.
According to Tarriela, the CCG-21543 vessel’s “recorded routes” over the past 60 days don’t make sense. The ship’s reported movements are so unrealistic that it’s “highly probable” the Chinese are hijacking AIS signals from other ships. The kicker? He suggested that dredgers operating in the Philippines could be part of this scheme.
This raises an even bigger concern for Zambales residents already wary of dredging operations in the area. Are these dredgers—often linked to environmental damage—now doubling as tools for maritime signal manipulation? If so, this could not only harm local ecosystems and livelihoods but also heighten geopolitical tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
To make matters worse, Tarriela didn’t hold back when calling out China’s actions, emphasizing that they’re disregarding international agreements like the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, which requires proper AIS use for certain vessels. By compromising AIS signals, Tarriela pointed out that China is ironically undermining maritime safety—one of the core responsibilities of a coast guard.
For now, Zambales residents have more questions than answers. Could their waters be playing host to vessels involved in AIS manipulation? And if dredgers are indeed part of this, how far-reaching is this operation?
As this story unfolds, one thing’s clear: the fight over the West Philippine Sea isn’t just about territory—it’s becoming a battle of signals, ships, and trust on the high seas.
Dec 13, 2024
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