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China files protest over PCG’s presence in Philippine EEZ

Some 200 Filipino activists and fisherfolk on May 15, 2024 conduct a 2-day voyage dubbed "West Philippine Sea Atin Ito" led by Akbayan Youth and the Atin Ito Coalition to protest against the continuing incursion of the Chinese government in the West Philippine Sea. The group also provided fuel and supplies to fishermen in the contested area. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://news-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com/api/upload-raw/20240817090812/20240516-atin-ito-wps-MT-4.jpg?resource=attachments" class="fr-fic fr-dii" alt="Filipino activists and fisherfolk on May 15, 2024 wave Philippine flags at a Philippine Coast Guard ship in the West Philippine Sea. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/file"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Filipino activists and fisherfolk on May 15, 2024 wave Philippine flags at a Philippine Coast Guard ship in the West Philippine Sea. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/file</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (UPDATED) –  China has lodged a formal protest with the Philippines over the prolonged presence of the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) BRP Teresa Magbanua in Escoda Shoal, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Friday.</p><p>Escoda Shoal or Sabina Shoal is a coral reef formation just roughly 70 nautical miles off Palawan mainland and is deep within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. </p><p>“China has protested to the Philippines through diplomatic channels and asked the Philippines to stop its infringement activities and withdraw the vessel at once,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said in a media briefing in Beijing. </p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/12/philippines-to-file-diplomatic-protest-over-china-s-plane-harassment-1316" id="isPasted">Philippines to protest China’s flare use</a> </div><p>Citing an unnamed source, Chinese state-controlled media Global Times claimed that the Philippines is planning to send another ship at Escoda Shoal to join the BRP Teresa Magbanua in a “joint anchoring,” seen as “an attempt to construct a forward deployment base in the form of a semi-permanent floating platform.” </p><p>“China is closely monitoring the developments and will take resolute measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and uphold the sanctity of the DOC (Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea),” the Chinese spokesperson added.</p><div><strong>‘UNFOUNDED FEARS’</strong></div><p>PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said China’s claims are “unfounded” and “too absurd,” noting though that Manila’s deployment in Escoda Shoal is legal and backed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.</p><p>The Philippines deployed the 97-meter multi-role response vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua, PCG’s most expensive vessel and one of the largest ships, in mid-April over alleged reclamation attempts of China in the area.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/10/afp-says-chinese-planes-dropped-flares-in-path-of-paf-patrol-over-bajo-de-masinloc-1620" id="isPasted">AFP says Chinese planes dropped flares in path of PAF patrol over Bajo de Masinloc</a></div><p>“While their unfounded fears regarding the Philippines potentially establishing a forward deployment base in Escoda Shoal are too absurd to warrant a response, this behavior reveals the mindset and actions of the PRC. Their suspicions about the Philippines engaging in such actions stem from their own pattern of unlawfully occupying maritime areas in the South China Sea, followed by illegal reclamation and provocative militarization of those features,” Tarriela said.</p><div><strong> ‘BOLSTERING THE FORCES’</strong></div><p>Former US Air Force officer Ray Powell, director of maritime transparency initiative SeaLight, on Friday reported the movement of four more large Qiong Sansha Yu militia ships from Mabini Reef (South Johnson Reef) to China’s military base in Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef), “bolstering the forces available to ‘take resolute countermeasures’ against the Philippines’ mission to Sabina Shoal that Beijing believes is coming.”</p><p>Tarriela posted videos on X showing the seemingly friendly interactions with the crew members of China Coast Guard (CCG) 5303 and Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels in Escoda Shoal.</p><p>Tarriela noted that CCG 5303 was registered as one of China’s authorized inspection ships under the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission’s (WCPFC Registry of Authorized Inspection Vessels.</p><p>“[CCG’s] personnel, utilizing Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats, did not inspect the Chinese Maritime Militia, which is gathered within the shoal for compliance with fishery laws. Instead of conducting inspections, they interacted with the crew of the CMM as if they were familiar acquaintances, sharing meals together. It is evident that no formal boarding procedures were carried out by the CCG to question the CMM’s intentions, despite their prolonged presence without any signs of fishing,” Tarriela said. </p><p>He said the video was a clear indication that the CCG fully recognizes the CMM as an “integral part” of its maritime operations and encroachment activities across the entire South China Sea. </p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/14/teodoro-reaffirms-commitment-to-acquire-fighter-jets-after-china-s-flare-use-1320" id="isPasted">Teodoro reaffirms commitment to acquire fighter jets after China’s flare use</a></div><p>“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. These state-subsidized maritime militia support the CCG and the People&#x27;s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in intimidating neighboring maritime states such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines,” Tarriela said.</p><p>He said the CCG should not be entrusted with the responsibilities of the WCPFC over its supposed failure to combat illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing.</p>

<p>China has lodged a formal protest with the Philippines over the prolonged presence of the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) BRP Teresa Magbanua in Escoda Shoal, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Friday.</p>

China has lodged a formal protest with the Philippines over the prolonged presence of the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) BRP Teresa Magbanua in Escoda Shoal, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Friday.