PAG-ASA ISLAND – A hospital ship from China has been positioned near Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, where the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua is currently stationed, the PCG reported on Thursday.
According to the PCG, the area around Escoda Shoal is occupied by a China Coast Guard vessel, 24 Chinese maritime militia vessels, a Chinese rescue vessel, and four Vietnamese fishing vessels.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG’s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, stated that China has been “deploying various types of vessels in many maritime areas.”
“Ang puno’t dulo lang naman talaga nitong ganitong reaction ng China is that pinaniniwalaan nila na ang BRP Teresa Magbanua will be staying in a Escoda shoal for good,” Tarriela said during a press briefing with reporters on Pag-asa Island.
“Paulit-ulit lang naman natin sinasabi na the intention of Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan why he deployed MRRV 9701 in Escoda Shoal ay para pangalagaan ang ating karapatan dito – siguraduhing wala ng yamang dagat na masisira,” he added.
Tarriela highlighted that the deployment of BRP Teresa Magbanua was in response to the presence of crushed corals and reported small-scale reclamation in the area.
“On the part of the Philippine government and of course for the Task Force on West Philippine Sea, ang PCG ay walang violation na ginagawa; our deployment of our coast guard vessel is only primarily to protect our sovereign rights,” he said.
Additionally, on Tuesday, AFP Spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla reported that a total of 129 ships were observed in the West Philippine Sea from August 13 to 19, including 18 coast guard ships, 13 navy ships, and 98 maritime militia vessels.