MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed on Wednesday that China’s massive ship, known as “The Monster,” remains anchored at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, positioned just over 600 yards from the Philippines’ BRP Teresa Magbanua.
PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, stated that the 165-meter China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901 “never departed” the unoccupied reef near Palawan island since July 3.
“As of 7:30 in the morning, the last image that I got from our coast guard personnel from MRRV 9701, the China Coast Guard monster ship remains to be inside the Escoda Shoal, it has not departed and still anchored there,” Tarriela said in a media forum in Manila.
Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, mentioned on Tuesday that the monster ship had left the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
“Sa Escoda Shoal, wala na. Walang pumalit. Wala na,” he said in a chance interview with reporters.
Former United States Air Force officer Ray Powell, director of maritime transparency initiative SeaLight, suggested that the confusion over the ship’s location was due to its movement outside Escoda from July 12 to 15.
“For most of that time it remained just to the northeast, except for a brief patrol to the south on the 15th,” Powell explained.
“The most likely explanation for their temporary departure would appear to be sea state. Wave heights were elevated during that period so the ships likely moved to safer locations as a precaution,” he added.
Meanwhile, Tarriela reported that the PCG deployed its 97-meter-long multi-role response vessel, BRP Melchora Aquino, “to closely monitor” the “incursive presence” of the 135-meter CCG vessel with bow number 5303, which sailed near Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro recently.
“It was reported that it came close to Lubang Island at a distance of 60 nautical miles. That is also true. I would like to confirm that the China Coast Guard vessel was monitored in that area,” Tarriela confirmed.
The Chinese vessel has since moved towards El Nido, Palawan, he said. Despite persistent radio challenges from the Philippines, the foreign vessel has not clarified its intentions.
“The same thing, the usual, whenever you challenge them, they’re also going to challenge our presence back,” Tarriela noted. “So far, we haven’t gotten any tangible response.”
When asked if the Philippines has ongoing activities in the waters off Lubang Island, Tarriela briefly responded, “I won’t comment.”