A Chinese civilian research vessel has spent more than a week conducting operations in waters off the Philippines’ Batanes Islands, an area that has become a new geopolitical battleground as Beijing ramps up pressure against Manila-Tokyo delimitation efforts. Data recorded via the vessel’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) for September, tracked by MarineTraffic, revealed that the Jia Hai Ke 7 research ship departed from Xiamen on China’s southeastern coast on September 19, arrived near Itbayat in the province of Batanes on September 22, and remained in the area through to at least Tuesday. The Philippine coastguard confirmed the ship’s presence on Monday. Coastguard spokesman Jay Tarriela said the vessel was around 38 nautical miles (70km) northwest of Itbayat and displaying behaviour inconsistent with innocent passage.“Rather than steaming on a steady course and speed, Jia Hai Ke 7 has been loitering and holding position in the same area – the movement pattern of a vessel conducting marine scientific research (MSR), not transit,” Tarriela said on social media.