The China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901, the so-called “monster ship”, has departed from the coastline of Zambales, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Wednesday. “Based on the Philippine Coast Guard's (PCG) current monitoring,

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.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Wednesday a new fleet was deployed to replace China Coast Guard (CCG) 5901 near Zambales, based on its latest

China’s “monster ship” has left the coastline of Zambales, but another Chinese vessel is heading to the area it vacated, according to PCG.

The Philippines has accused a giant Chinese coast guard vessel it dubbed as the “Monster” of maintaining an “illegal presence” in its exclusive economic zone as Beijing ramps up activities in the disputed South China Sea.

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.

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.

Malacaang expresses "grave concern" over the presence of China's so-called monster ship off the coast of Zambales, adding that the Philippines is actively challenging its presence.