PH shoal situation: ‘Monster’ out, smaller Sino vessel in
The massive China Guard Coast (CCG) ship also known as “The Monster” has left Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) after staying there for more than a month but has been replaced in the area by a smaller CCG vessel, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Thursday.Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson on matters relating to the WPS, said the 165-meter-long CCG vessel with bow No. 5901 left Escoda on Aug. 10 and in its place came the 135-meter CCG 5903.
Regional fisheries body
According to Tarriela, the CCG 5903 is registered by the Chinese government with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and is supposed to help the international body “combat illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing.”
“However, since its arrival at Escoda Shoal to replace the CCG 5901, its personnel… did not inspect the Chinese maritime militia (vessels) gathered within the shoal, for compliance with fishery laws,” he said in a statement.
The WCPFC is a body established under a 2004 convention for conservation and management of highly migratory fish stocks in the region. It counts the Philippines and China among its member countries.
Instead of conducting inspections, the CCG 5903 personnel “interacted with the crew” of the militia vessels “as if they were familiar acquaintances, sharing meals together,” the PCG official noted.
No formal boarding procedures were carried out by the CCG to question the Chinese maritime militia’s intentions “despite their prolonged presence without any signs of fishing.”
‘Disguised’ as law enforcement
“This clearly indicates that the Chinese maritime militia is recognized by the Chinese coast guard as an integral part of their maritime operations, aiding in encroaching upon the exclusive economic zones of other countries throughout the South China Sea,” he said.
These “state-subsidized maritime militia,” he added, support the CCG and the People’s Liberation Army Navy in intimidating neighboring maritime states such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The Escoda situation, he said, only showed that the CCG should not be trusted with the responsibilities of the WCPFC since China continues to engage in “the innovative legitimization of its unlawful presence and activities… disguised [as] maritime law enforcement.”
The 97-meter BRP Teresa Magbanua, the PCG’s largest and most modern vessel, has been at Escoda since April 18 in response to the presence of the Chinese militia vessels and suspected reclamation activities. INQ
