Philippine Navy Spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad on Tuesday said China Coast Guard’s (CCG) “monster ship” has left Escoda (Sabina) Shoal.
Trinidad confirmed the CCG ship with hull number 5901 has exited the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
However, he did not specify when the ship left the vicinity of the shoal, where the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) BRP Teresa Magbanua maintains a persistent presence.
“It is no longer off Escoda Shoal,” Trinidad said in an ambush interview after a regular press briefing held at Philippine Air Force headquarters, adding that “no replacement” has been sent for the ship.
When asked if the “monster ship” is still in the country’s EEZ, he said: “No. We have to check its latest location.”
CCG’s gigantic patrol cutter, which is the largest coast guard vessel in the world, had been deployed off Escoda Shoal on July 3.
The Navy likewise confirmed a recent report on the presence of a CCG vessel near Lubang Island.
“The Philippine Navy has monitored the presence. It was a continuous passage west of Lubang Island 60 nautical miles from mainland Luzon,” Trinidad said.
Asked if it was an innocent passage, Trinidad responded: “Freedom of navigation, yes.”
He said the Philippine Navy informed the PCG, Naval Forces Northern Luzon, and Naval Forces West about the patrol conducted by the Chinese vessel.
The CCG 5303 vessel was spotted near Lubang Island in Mindoro on Sunday afternoon while conducting an “intrusive patrol,” former US Air Force official and Defence Attaché Ray Powell said on Monday.
“At 16:20 yesterday the 135-meter China Coast Guard 5303 arrived 60 nm west of the Philippines’ Lubang Island & is now conducting an intrusive patrol at that location,” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
