China deploys Type 815G spy ship Tianwangxing near Philippine coast during arrival of US F-35A jets.

On July 12, 2025, Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for West Philippine Sea concerns, announced that the PCG was actively monitoring the movements of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels operating 69.31 nautical miles west of Cabra Island, Occidental Mindoro. According to the PCG, the BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701), while conducting maritime law enforcement patrols, established radio contact with PLAN warship Tianwangxing, hull number 793, a Type 815G Dongdiao-class electronic reconnaissance ship. The ship did not respond.
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The Chinese spy ship intercepted by the Philippine Coast Guard, Tianwangxing (AGI-853), is the first commissioned vessel of the Type 815G Dongdiao-II class electronic reconnaissance ships, entering PLAN service on December 1, 2010. (Picture source: Philippine Coast Guard)

The accompanying China Coast Guard vessel, hull number 4203, responded by asserting China's jurisdiction over the maritime area. The PCG emphasized that these vessels were operating within the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and it reminded both the PLAN and CCG to observe the rights of the Philippines in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal Award, and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.

As of 1100H on the same day, the BRP Teresa Magbanua continued to shadow Tianwangxing and CCG 4203. They were later joined by a PLAN Type 052D-class guided missile destroyer identified as Guilin (hull number 164). The destroyer conducted helicopter landing exercises on its flight deck during the morning. Several radio challenges issued by the PCG throughout the day were left unanswered by the Chinese PLAN vessels. The PCG reiterated that the location of the vessels, approximately 69.31 nautical miles off Cabra Island, lies within the Philippine EEZ and does not constitute international waters. The Philippine authorities requested that Chinese units desist from carrying out patrols or law enforcement activities in the zone and respond to communications from the PCG. The ongoing incident occurred during the Cope Thunder aerial combat exercise, in which U.S. F-35A fighter jets were deployed to Philippine territory for the first time, a fact that provides operational context to the presence of the Chinese reconnaissance vessel and associated units in the area.

The Chinese ship intercepted by the Philippine Coast Guard, Tianwangxing (AGI-853), is a Type 815G Dongdiao-II class electronic reconnaissance ship of the PLAN, commissioned on December 1, 2010. It is the first ship of the Type 815G subclass, which succeeded the original Type 815 Dongdiao-I class. Tianwangxing is distinguishable by its tower-like mast structure and a curved sheer line, differing from earlier vessels, which featured flatter deck profiles. The ship was constructed at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in Shanghai. It measures approximately 130 meters in length, with a beam of about 16.4 meters and a draft of 6.5 meters. The full displacement is estimated at approximately 6,000 to 6,600 tons. Propulsion is provided by two SEMT-Pielstick diesel engines connected to twin adjustable-pitch propellers and twin rudders. The maximum speed is 20 knots. The standard crew complement is approximately 250 personnel. The ship is equipped with a helipad and an enclosed hangar, typically used for medium helicopters such as the Harbin Z-9.

The Tianwangxing carries a comprehensive suite of signal intelligence and electronic surveillance systems. These include a Type 756 Fin Curve Mod radar, modeled after the Decca 1229, with a surface and navigation radar range of 46.3 kilometers. It is also fitted with a generic X-band ballistic missile tracking radar capable of monitoring targets at a distance of up to 5,185.6 kilometers. Its electronic surveillance measures include advanced electronic support measures (ESM) and communications intelligence (COMINT) systems, both with an estimated operational range of 926 kilometers. Optical and electro-optical systems onboard include laser designators, infrared weapon directors, and third-generation visual tracking TV cameras, with respective ranges of 18.5 kilometers and 185.2 kilometers. The ship’s communication equipment includes satellite communication systems that are believed to provide real-time intelligence relay and possibly allow the control or monitoring of unmanned aerial vehicles. Defensive armament includes one twin-barrel 37mm Type 76 naval gun and two twin-barrel 25mm Type 61 anti-aircraft guns.

The ship has been observed on multiple occasions operating near or within EEZs of foreign countries. In 2022, the Dongdiao-class Haiwangxing (AGI-852), another vessel of the Type 815G class, was shadowed by the Philippine Navy for three days while it operated within the Sulu Sea. In May of that year, Philippine authorities also reported that Chinese civilian research vessels were conducting unauthorized surveys within its EEZ. The Tianwangxing was similarly observed during the Balikatan 2024 exercise, operating near U.S., Philippine, and French naval forces. The vessel has previously monitored Talisman Sabre joint exercises in Australia and has been photographed during intelligence operations in the vicinity of the Harold E. Holt Communications Station. Its movements have also been documented near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where Indian sources reported that the vessel entered India's EEZ and remained in the area for nearly two weeks.

The estimated construction cost of a Type 815G vessel ranges between $300 million and $500 million, although no official figures have been disclosed. This estimate is based on comparisons with similar 6,000-ton auxiliary general intelligence ships equipped with high-grade surveillance and communication systems. The Type 815G subclass includes four known vessels: Tianwangxing (AGI-853), Tianlangxing (AGI-854), Tianshuxing (AGI-855), and Haiwangxing (AGI-852). The subsequent 815A subclass includes additional modifications such as flat-topped cylindrical radomes, refined composite superstructures for radar cross-section reduction, and updated internal systems. These vessels are assigned across the PLAN’s East, South, and North Sea Fleets and have been consistently used for long-range surveillance and signal collection during international naval exercises and missile test events.

The specific presence of Tianwangxing near Mindoro during Cope Thunder, and its association with both the China Coast Guard and a PLAN destroyer, is consistent with observed deployment patterns of Type 815G-class vessels during large-scale multinational drills. The ship’s interception by the PCG follows a trend in which Chinese electronic intelligence vessels conduct operations near or within contested waters. While China maintains that these missions fall under freedom of navigation, host countries such as the Philippines, India, Japan, and Australia have repeatedly objected, citing violations of EEZ jurisdiction under international law. Philippine authorities have highlighted the refusal of the vessel to respond to communications and the conduct of military exercises within their EEZ as examples of non-compliance with international maritime norms. The interception of Tianwangxing by BRP Teresa Magbanua, and the continued monitoring of the accompanying CCG and PLAN vessels, illustrates a typical operational scenario in which the PCG is tasked with responding to foreign military movements perceived as encroaching on national jurisdiction.