Beijing’s ‘monster’ ship stays in Escoda Shoal
There is no let-up in the “intimidation” tactics of Beijing in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard said, noting that China Coast Guard’s massive ship, dubbed “The Monster,” also deployed a rigid-hull inflatable boat around Escoda Shoal.
“It is an act of intimidation on the part of the China Coast Guard,” PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said.
Despite the CCG-5901 staying just less than 800 yards or some 700 meters from the PCG’s BRP Teresa Magbanua at Escoda Shoal, Tarriela said Manila will not withdraw its vessel.
“Regardless how many China Coast Guard vessels that they deploy there – regardless of whether it’s a People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel – the Philippine Coast Guard will not be intimidated not are we going to pull back and direct Teresa Magbanua to go back to Palawan,” he said.
“With the clear guidance of our President and the intention of the commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard to maintain our presence in Escoda Shoal, we’re not going to pull out and we’re not going to be intimidated,” he added.
Beijing’s deployment of “The Monster” came a day after China agreed to deescalate maritime tensions with the Philippines during the 9th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea (BCM) in Manila.
Former US Air Force officer Ray Powell said China’s deployment of its giant coast guard vessel is meant to project its force and maximize its leverage in the consultations.
“From a Chinese perspective, it helps them to have more force projected and especially something large like the monster ship helps them to say, ‘We have you at a disadvantage so you should have to negotiate more on our terms,’” Powell told ABS-CBN News.
“China always places the first responsibility for the de-escalation on the other party. So, China has deployed its coast guard into the Philippine waters as a way of letting the Philippines know that it still claims jurisdiction and again they want to be able to negotiate on the de-escalation on terms favorable to China,” he added.
Tarriela said it is China that needs to de-escalate as it is also the one “escalating the tension” in the West Philippine Sea.
He said BRP Teresa Magbanua has been issuing radio challenges to the CCG ship on an hourly basis.
“It’s not our burden to deescalate because we are always only on the receiving end of the escalatory actions of the China Coast Guard,” he said.
“We’re not the one escalating the tension – we’re just maintaining our presence, we are not provoking anybody. We are just carrying out our patriotic duty of maintaining our presence in the West Philippine Sea. The escalatory efforts are only on the part of the Chinese Coast Guard,” Tarriela added.
