PH Navy deploys warship, increases patrols in Escoda Shoal | ABS-CBN
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PH Navy deploys warship, increases patrols in Escoda Shoal
MANILA — The Philippine Navy on Tuesday said it has deployed a warship to Escoda Shoal or Sabina Shoal amid the suspected reclamation activities of China in the area.
MANILA — The Philippine Navy on Tuesday said it has deployed a warship to Escoda Shoal or Sabina Shoal amid the suspected reclamation activities of China in the area.
“The Navy has increased its patrols in Sabina Shoal. For the past good number of days, we have had one warship stationed in the area. This is to ensure that whoever is doing that, whoever is piling up dead corals in Sabina Shoal, we will be able to expose their activities,” Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, told ABS-CBN News in an interview at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
“The Navy has increased its patrols in Sabina Shoal. For the past good number of days, we have had one warship stationed in the area. This is to ensure that whoever is doing that, whoever is piling up dead corals in Sabina Shoal, we will be able to expose their activities,” Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, told ABS-CBN News in an interview at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
“So far, none. The approach here, it will take more than a military effort. The approach here is to show the world that we are a responsible player following international law,” he said, noting there have been no reclamation activities monitored in the area in the past few days.
“So far, none. The approach here, it will take more than a military effort. The approach here is to show the world that we are a responsible player following international law,” he said, noting there have been no reclamation activities monitored in the area in the past few days.
Trinidad added that the Philippine Navy will ensure that no reclamation activity will be done by foreign vessels in features “well within the sovereign rights and sovereignty of the Philippines.”
Trinidad added that the Philippine Navy will ensure that no reclamation activity will be done by foreign vessels in features “well within the sovereign rights and sovereignty of the Philippines.”
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“We will do everything to ensure that Sabina and all other features within our EEZ will remain under Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights,” he said.
“We will do everything to ensure that Sabina and all other features within our EEZ will remain under Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights,” he said.
Escoda Shoal is just 75 nautical miles or around 120 kilometers off the coast of mainland Palawan.
Escoda Shoal is just 75 nautical miles or around 120 kilometers off the coast of mainland Palawan.
The Philippine Coast Guard over the weekend said it has discovered crushed corals allegedly dumped by Chinese ships in Escoda Shoal in a supposed new reclamation attempt.
The Philippine Coast Guard over the weekend said it has discovered crushed corals allegedly dumped by Chinese ships in Escoda Shoal in a supposed new reclamation attempt.
Beijing, however, has denied this, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin calling the alleged reclamation a “rumor.”
Beijing, however, has denied this, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin calling the alleged reclamation a “rumor.”
Despite the denial, Trinidad said the Navy remains alert to prevent any buildup on Escoda Shoal, which is reminiscent of the militarization done on Panganiban Reef or Mischief Reef over ten years ago.
Despite the denial, Trinidad said the Navy remains alert to prevent any buildup on Escoda Shoal, which is reminiscent of the militarization done on Panganiban Reef or Mischief Reef over ten years ago.
“2011, 2012, when China did all the reclamation work in the WPS, they used giant dredgers to be able to move sand and build up on Mischief, Subi, Panganiban Reef. They were able to build military bases there. This time around, there was no noticed presence of those dredgers. But we saw the result: a lot of crushed corals as if Sabina Shoal is growing. We could say this is one particular attempt to reclaim and build up an artificial island. We are on top of the situation. The PCG is there, the PN is there. We would like to prevent a repeat of what happened in 2012, 2013,” the Navy official noted.
“2011, 2012, when China did all the reclamation work in the WPS, they used giant dredgers to be able to move sand and build up on Mischief, Subi, Panganiban Reef. They were able to build military bases there. This time around, there was no noticed presence of those dredgers. But we saw the result: a lot of crushed corals as if Sabina Shoal is growing. We could say this is one particular attempt to reclaim and build up an artificial island. We are on top of the situation. The PCG is there, the PN is there. We would like to prevent a repeat of what happened in 2012, 2013,” the Navy official noted.
“The approach of the government in the WPS is the transparency initiative. We would like to show the world what the other players are doing in the maritime domain and I would like to say that the other claimant countries have been subscribing to international law, except for China,” he added.
“The approach of the government in the WPS is the transparency initiative. We would like to show the world what the other players are doing in the maritime domain and I would like to say that the other claimant countries have been subscribing to international law, except for China,” he added.
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