China’s ‘monster ship’ keeps watch over BRP Teresa Magbanua in Escoda Shoal

China Coast Guard (CCG) 5901, the world's largest coast guard ship known as "The Monster," proceeded to Escoda Shoal after it was spotted in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, according to a maritime expert monitoring the ship's movements.

The Monster reportedly "kept watch" over Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) BRP Teresa Magbanua, according to former US Air Force official and former Defence Attaché Ray Powell.

“Tonight at Sabina (Escoda) Shoal in Philippines' exclusive economic zone, China's massive 12,000-ton intimidator, China Coast Guard 5901 ("The Monster"), now keeps watch over the Philippine Coast Guard's BRP Teresa Magbanua,” Powell said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). 

In an update on Thursday morning, Powell said CCG and maritime militia vessels were deployed in two-line “blockade" around Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal and Escoda Shoal.

"Activity around 2nd Thomas/Sabina Shoals today. China Coast Guard and militia deployed in 2-line ‘blockade’ formation near 2TS near mouth of the shoal and 15 nautical miles east,” he said.

“One militia ship moving southeast of Sabina. ‘The Monster’ (CCG 5901) still at Sabina ~600 meters from BRP Teresa Magbanua,” he added.

GMA News Online reached out to the Philippine Navy and the PCG to confirm the report but they have yet to respond as of posting time.

BRP Teresa Magbanua has been stationed in Escoda Shoal since April amid reports of China’s reclamation activities in the area. 

Escoda or Sabina Shoal is located 75 nautical miles or about 140 kilometers off Palawan and considered to be within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). 

It is a coral reef formation with a central lagoon surrounded by discontinuous shallow sections.

On Wednesday morning, the Philippine Navy confirmed that the Monster ship has returned to Ayungin Shoal after conducting an intrusive patrol in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from June 17 to 27.

BRP Sierra Madre of the Philippine Navy is located in Ayungin Shoal.

Its voyage in the WPS happened on the same day of the violent incident in Ayungin Shoal involving Chinese and Filipino personnel that resulted in one Filipino navy officer losing his thumb.

Based on monitoring by Philippine authorities, the Chinese vessel passed through 12 features of the WPS in 10 days:

• Parola Island
• Pagasa Island
• Zamora Reef
• Bayani Bank
• Union Bank
• Kagitingan Reef
• Rizal Reef
• Panganiban Reef
• Lawak Island 
• Patag Island
• Escoda Shoal
• Bajo De Masinloc

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Its territorial claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Manila refers parts of the waters within its exclusive economic zone as the West Philippine Sea.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in the Hague ruled that China's claims over the South China Sea had no legal basis, a decision Beijing does not recognize. --VAL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News