The Chinese vessel known as “The Monster,’’ so-called for being the largest coast guard ship in the world, reentered the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Wednesday morning, in what a retired Philippine Navy officer said was Beijing’s way of sending a fresh message to Manila that it owns almost the entire South China Sea. Posting about the sighting on X, United States maritime expert Ray Powell said the 165-meter-long China Coast Guard (CCG) ship with bow number 5901 returned for another “intrusive patrol” into the EEZ and joined another, 102-meter-long CCG craft with bow number 5203 at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

Corrales, N., & Lazaro, J. (2024, July 4). PH, Sino ministers talk de-escalation - but 'Monster" back in EEZ. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A3.