Questions raised on Chinese ship's stay in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philipines  – Local officials have raised questions on the stay at the Sasa Wharf here for 10 days of M/V Yuanwang III, a Chinese national scientific tracking and survey ship.

Officials of various agencies here are equally unaware of details on the arrival of what locals have tagged as the “Chinese spy ship.”

“There were initial reports that the vessel contained ‘cocaine’ and then that it was a military vessel, and then a Chinese scientific tracking and survey ship. We really do not know exactly what that ship is all about and what is its purpose here,” a Coast Guard official said.

The Coast Guard official said there could deception on the part of those behind the ship since they failed to submit the ship’s description to the offices concerned.

“If they deceived us on the particular aspect as to the purpose of the trip to Davao City, then there is already deception there,” he said.

Army Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the Armed Forces’ Eastern Mindanao Command, said the ship was given clearance to dock until Aug. 15 reportedly for it to replenish its supplies.