The West Philippine Sea monitor on Wednesday reported that the China Coast Guard (CCG) 5901, the world’s largest coast guard ship known as “The Monster,” was spotted again in Ayungin Shoal.
Former US Air Force official and former Defence Attaché Ray Powell said the CCG 5901 has joined CCG 5203 in Ayungin Shoal as of 7:26 a.m.
“The 165-meter China Coast Guard 5901 (‘The Monster’) has returned for another intrusive patrol in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and has just joined the 102-meter CCG 5203 at 2nd Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal,” Powell said.
The CCG 5901 was last spotted in Ayungin Shoal on June 24. Its voyage in the WPS started following the June 17 violent incident in the shoal involving Chinese and Filipino personnel, resulting in one Filipino navy officer losing his thumb.
Reports from PCG last week said that the said Chinese vessel passed through the water features of the WPS in 10 days such as Parola and Pagasa Island, Zamora Reef, Escoda Shoal and Bajo De Masinloc.
Aside from these WPS features, the gigantic ship also went to the waters of El Nido, Palawan, coming as close as 34 nautical miles from its coastline.
The Chinese vessel was last monitored 46 nautical miles southeast of Sanya, Hainan in China on June 27.
The sighting happened amid ongoing talks between Manila and Beijing, “Beijing sent CCG 5901 to Ayungin shoal at the same time as the BCM (bilateral consultation mechanism) was going on,” Powell said in a message.
“China aims to force the Philippines to negotiate from a position of relative weakness in hopes of extracting concessions in exchange for de-escalation,” he added.
Manila and Beijing held the regular BCM on Tuesday following this incident, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Manila Standard has reached out to proper authorities on the issue. The AFP and PCG still have not confirmed the said report as of writing.