China’s ‘monster ship’ still anchored in Escoda Shoal —PCG

China Coast Guard (CCG) 5901, the world's largest coast guard ship known as "The Monster," is still anchored in Escoda Shoal as of Wednesday morning, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

In a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said the Chinese vessel has never left Escoda or Sabina Shoal since July 3.

“We have reported since last week that we monitored the presence of this CCG monster ship inside the Escoda Shoal anchored at a distance around 600 yards away from BRP Terese Magbanua,” he said.

“I would like to confirm that as of 7:30 in the morning, the last image that I got from our Coast Guard personnel, the CCG monster ship remains to be inside the Escoda Shoal. It never departed and is still anchored there,” he added.

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.

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

On July 3, China’s monster ship proceeded to Escoda Shoal and kept watch over BRP Teresa Magbanua. The PCG vessel has been constantly challenging the presence of the Chinese ship in the area.

Tarriela earlier said that China’s monster ship was deployed to Escoda Shoal to intimidate BRP Teresa Magbanua as it is the longest deployment of the Coast Guard in the WPS.

Tensions continue amid China’s massive claim in the South China Sea (SCS) including the portion the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea.

The SCS is a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Aside from the Philippines, China has overlapping claims in the area with Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

China does not recognize the decision.—AOL, GMA Integrated News