FILE PHOTO: An aerial photograph taken by the Philippine Coast Guard exhibits the large expanse of Escoda (Sabina) Shoal coveted by China inside the Philippines’ unique financial zone within the West Philippine Sea. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Eight China warships and coast guard vessels had been usually noticed at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal within the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Navy mentioned Tuesday.
Nonetheless, the interval when this commentary was marked was unclear as of this writing.
Throughout a press convention in Camp Aguinaldo, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, mentioned: “From time to time, we see on common, two or three of the PLA Navy and 4 or 5 of the Coast Guard.”
He additionally mentioned that the variety of Chinese language ships current across the sandbar is just not fixed and that the nation nonetheless has entry to Escoda Shoal.
Trinidad issued these statements in response to an incident the place the China Coast Guard blocked a Filipino boat from conducting fishing actions close to the reef.
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In a three-page handwritten sworn assertion that was shared with members of the media two weeks in the past, FFB Hadassah captain Arnel Lepalam mentioned the CCG blocked their makes an attempt to enter Escoda Shoal on Oct. 8 and Oct. 17.
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Trinidad, nonetheless, mentioned the 2 incidents are remoted and that it could be incorrect to conclude that these episodes point out that China now controls Escoda.
“It’s a fallacious assumption as a result of that’s an remoted incident. We nonetheless have entry there, they don’t have 24/7 management. We nonetheless proceed on performing our mandate,” he famous.
The Philippines used to have a extra everlasting presence at Escoda Shoal.
However Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) BRP Teresa Magbanua left contested sandbar in September after staying there for greater than 5 months.
READ: WPS: Ought to PH anchor one other ship in Sabina Shoal? Consultants weigh in
Anchored within the shoal from April 16, 2024, BRP Teresa Magbanua was the longest-deployed PCG asset within the West Philippine Sea. It returned to the mainland Philippines by way of the Puerto Princesa port on Sept. 15, arriving with 4 dehydrated crew who subsisted on rice porridge and rainwater for weeks because the CCG managed to thwart the deployment of primary provides to assist the Filipino troops aboard.
China’s habits occurred whereas Chinese language state publication World Occasions claimed that BRP Teresa Magbanua is “semi-grounded” in Escoda Shoal. China claimed that BRP Teresa Magbanua could possibly be just like what the Philippines did with the BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded Navy warship on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, which is adjoining to Escoda.
In 2012, Manila and Beijing additionally had a tense standoff over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal. Ultimately, the Philippines filed an arbitration case earlier than the Everlasting Court docket of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague to problem China’s nine-dash line that it makes use of to say possession of virtually your entire South China Sea.
READ: What Went Earlier than: Panatag Shoal standoff
On July 12, 2016, the PCA acknowledged that the Philippines has unique rights over the West Philippine Sea and invalidated the nine-dash line declare of China.
Consultants concern that the October 2024 Escoda Shoal incident could possibly be a repeat of the two-month Panatag Shoal standoff in 2012.
The PCG, nonetheless, dismissed such issues citing the totally different geography of the 2 sandbars, amongst others.
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