New Delhi, July 15 -- In May 2026, the Chinese oceanographic research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 33 became the latest source of tension between China and the Philippines. Manila accused the Chinese vessel of conducting unauthorized marine scientific research inside the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) patrols tracked the ship near several disputed features, including Iroquois Reef, Sabina Shoal, and areas surrounding Pag-asa Island. While observing the deployment of service boats and the presence of accompanying Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels. Manila argued that these activities violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which requires the consent of the coast...