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DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/18 July) – The Philippine government cleared the Chinese research/survey vessel which docked at the Sasa Wharf at 9:40 p.m. on Monday for replenishment, an official of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) said on Tuesday.
The Chinese vessel came only weeks after Chinese military aircraft Ilyushing Il-76 from New Zealand landed for the second time at the F. Bangoy International Airport for a similar reason on June 23.
Eastminmom public information officer Major Ezra L. Balagtey said in a text message that the Yuang Wang 3, which came from Jiangyin, China, has been granted with a diplomatic clearance by higher authorities.
“This is a routine ship visit similar to any other foreign ship wishing to call on our ports,” he added.
According to www.globalsecurity.org, the vessel is China’s first generation of composite tracking surveying station at the China Sea.
It is equipped with a weather forecast system composed of meteorological radar, air sounding instrument, helium high altitude balloon release apparatus, satellite cloud chart receiver, radio meteorological communication equipment and conventional meteorological equipment to provide high altitude meteorological parameters at sea in time. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)