The Philippine government strongly asserted that Escoda Shoal is located well within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as recognized by international law despite a diplomatic protest lodged by China on the continued presence of a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel there.
A ranking PCG official on Sunday said the Philippines’ claim over the disputed shoal is in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral award.
“Our Philippine Coast Guard vessels have the right to operate within the lagoon of Escoda Shoal for as long as necessary, without requiring permission from any other country,” said Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG’s spokesman on the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In its complaint, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that BRP Teresa Magbanua “entered the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao without permission and has been there for an extended period, which seriously infringes on China’s sovereignty, violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and threatens peace and stability in the South China Sea.”
Tarriela, in return, slammed the ministry’s statement, saying that China should stop citing the 2002 declaration “as they have not honored or followed a single provision of that declaration.”
“As far as the region is concerned, it is only Beijing that constantly violates this declaration. They have been deploying their large Coast Guard vessels there, complemented by their numerous Chinese Maritime Militia,” the PCG official said.
“Additionally, they have deployed their naval assets in Escoda Shoal, and these actions undermine stability in these waters and contribute to escalating tensions,” he pointed out.
Tarriela further clarified that the PCG vessel’s deployment to Escoda Shoal was not to provoke or escalate tensions but to protect and uphold the Philippines’ sovereign rights over these waters.
He added that the vessel is also guarding against illegal poaching and activities that harm the marine environment.
BRP Teresa Magbanua has been stationed at the Escoda Shoal since April amid reports of China’s reclamation activities in the area.
Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada maintained that the Philippines’ presence in Escoda Shoal does not infringe on China’s sovereignty.
He echoed the PCG’s position that the BRP Teresa Magbanua is stationed in waters falling within Manila’s EEZ as defined by international law.
“Therefore, there is no reason for us to withdraw our vessel which was anchored in response to suspected reclamation activities of China,” said Estrada, who chairs the defense panel.
The senator took a swipe at China, saying it is the one encroaching on the Philippines’ EEZ, not the other way around.
He surmised that Beijing’s primary objective seems to be to establish full control over the shoal by deploying Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and maritime militia vessels to carry out its “bullying” tactics.
As this developed, an international security expert said that Manila’s joint drills with foreign allies should be sustained to protect against China’s growing aggression.
Dr. Chester Cabalza, founding president of the non-profit International Development and Security Cooperation (IDSC) think tank, told Manila Standard that joint military exercises also sharpen Philippine troops’ capability to fight alongside the forces of friendly states.
“These (joint drills) contribute a lot to our national security because it strengthen our global defense network. It also helps our troops develop interoperability with our allies,” he said in Filipino.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “PCG won’t yield Escoda Shoal amid Chinese protest”
