PCG: China’s ‘monster ship’ leaves Escoda, replaced by smaller vessel

MANILA, Philippines — After more than a month, China Coast Guard’s (CCG) so-called “monster ship” left the vicinity of Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, but it was replaced by a smaller vessel, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Thursday.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the CCG vessel with hull number 5901 left the shoal’s vicinity on August 10.

READ: China’s ‘monster ship’ off Sabina Shoal on ‘dark mode’ 

The CCG’s gigantic patrol cutter, which is the largest coast guard vessel in the world at 165 meters long and 22 meters wide, had been deployed to Escoda Shoal on July 3.

However, Tarriela said it was replaced by a 135-meter CCG vessel with hull number 5903.

The CCG-5303, registered by the People’s Republic of China on the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) — a multinational fisheries management organization in the Pacific Ocean — is supposed to help combat illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing.

“However, since its arrival at Escoda Shoal to replace the CCG-5901, its personnel, utilizing rigid hull inflatable boats, did not inspect the Chinese maritime militia (CMM), which is gathered within the shoal for compliance with fishery laws,” Tarriela said in a statement.

READ: China patrols show 10-dash line push in West Philippine Sea, SCS

“Instead of conducting inspections, they interacted with the crew of the CMM as if they were familiar acquaintances, sharing meals together,” Tarriela pointed out.

Tarriela also noted that no formal boarding procedures were carried out by the personnel of the CCG ship to question the CMM’s intentions, “despite their prolonged presence without any signs of fishing.”

“This clearly indicates that the Chinese maritime militia is recognized by the Chinese Coast Guard as an integral part of their maritime operations, aiding in encroaching upon the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of other countries throughout the South China Sea,” Tarriela said.

“[T]his situation highlights that the CCG should not be entrusted with the responsibilities of the WCPFC to board fishing vessels,” he further said. “The PRC’s aim appears to be the innovative legitimization of its unlawful presence and activities in the West Philippine Sea, disguised under the pretense of maritime law enforcement.”

Beijing’s deployment in the area comes as Manila maintains a persistent presence in Sabina Shoal.

READ: Chinese survey ship conducts unauthorized patrols in Escoda Shoal

BRP Teresa Magbanua, a 97-meter multirole response vessel, has been deployed in Sabina Shoal since April 16 to become the longest-deployed PCG asset in the West Philippine Sea following suspected reclamation activities around the shoal.

Manila is holding the line in the West Philippine Sea as Beijing asserts sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the EEZ of the country’s western section, even if such a claim has been effectively invalidated by the arbitral award issued in July 2016.

The landmark ruling stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013, a year after its tense standoff with Beijing over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, whose lagoon is now under the latter’s effective control.