China Coast Guard vessels and militia ships are conducting a search and rescue operation near the Huangyan Island.

Chinese Coast Guard ships and civilian vessels appear near the Huangyan Island for a search and rescue operation!

On August 12, the Philippines' largest newspaper, "The Inquirer," reported that Ray Powell, director of the U.S. think tank SeaLight, which specializes in South China Sea issues, revealed that a Chinese Coast Guard ship and several Chinese maritime militia vessels are conducting a search and rescue operation near the Huangyan Island.

Powell stated that at least one Chinese Coast Guard ship and eight Chinese militia vessels are conducting search operations within 15 to 25 nautical miles east of the Huangyan Island. He pointed out that these vessels are carrying out a "parallel sweep." Powell, who is the project director at the Stanford University Goldey Node National Security Innovation Center, told "The Inquirer": "These ships typically do not operate in this manner, so according to the current situation, it is reasonable to infer that they are searching for something (or someone)."

Approximately 20 to 30 nautical miles away from the search area, the Philippine Coast Guard's BRP Teresa Magbanua is also patrolling nearby. Powell said that the Philippine Coast Guard's vessels can monitor the activities of Chinese vessels from their current location.

On Tuesday, Admiral Ronnie Gil L. Gavan, commander of the Philippine Coast Guard, presided over the award ceremony for 43 crew members of the BRP Suluan, recognizing their "professional performance" during the incident.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1840253859339467/

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