ANKARA 

The Philippines has begun monitoring China's largest coast guard ship, which it claims is near its exclusive economic zone since Saturday, local media reported on Monday.

National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya called the presence of long vessel 5901, which he referred to as "the monster," an act of "intimidation, coercion, and aggression against the Philippines," according to local media outlet Inquirer Net.

"We are not neglecting this, fellow countrymen. We have all our assets directed at this monster ship, and the moment it commits any wrongdoing—in the sense of taking any provocative action—it will be met with the appropriate response from the government," said Malaya.

The spokesperson said the Chinese ship has not engaged in any blocking or dangerous maneuvers so far.

He added that the Philippines’ authorities will not act provocatively unless instigated.

Tensions between Beijing and Manila have intensified in recent months over the South China Sea, a region spanning 3.5 million square kilometers through which an estimated $11.3 billion in global trade passes annually, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Last month, Manila accused Beijing of its naval vessels having been involved in "harassment" of Philippine vessels and warned it would deploy a warship to the disputed South China Sea.

The dispute underscores growing regional frictions over the strategic waterway, where China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, overlapping with the territorial waters of several countries, including the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan region.

Manila has consistently accused Beijing of aggressive actions, including the use of its coast guard and maritime militia to intimidate Philippine vessels and fishermen.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid