China research ship spotted off Sabina Shoal —maritime security expert

A Chinese research vessel has been spotted outside Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, according to American maritime security expert Ray Powell.

In his post on X, Powell said the Chinese research vessel Ke Xue San Hao has been ''surveying'' the areas south and east of Sabina Shoal, also known as Escoda Shoal, since July 25 and was located 40 nautical miles off Palawan on Friday, August 2.

Powell said there are other maritime features in the area, such as the First Thomas Shoal, Half Moon Shoal, and Boxall Reef.

According to Super Radyo dzBB, the Philippine Coast Guard is monitoring the movement of the research ship.

Philippine Coastguard, aktibong binanbantayan ang namataang research vessel ng China sa Escoda Shoal.

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— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) August 3, 2024

GMA Integrated News is still trying to get a statement from the Armed Forces of the Philippines on the matter. 

China 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 calls parts of the waters within its exclusive economic zone the West Philippine Sea.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in the Hague ruled that China's claims over the South China Sea have no legal basis, a decision Beijing does not recognize. — Sherylin Untalan/VBL, GMA Integrated News