(ABS-CBN NEWS) MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) was forced to abort a resupply mission bound for BRP Teresa Magbanua in Escoda Shoal Monday, its spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea confirmed.
According to Commodore Jay Tarriela, food supplies and provisions for the over 10 crewmen on board the BRP Teresa Magbanua are at critical level.
The PCG has conducted numerous resupply missions to the vessel since its deployment to Escoda Shoal last April 16. But for the first time in 4 months, 6 China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and 2 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessels appeared and surrounded BRP Cabra and BRP Cape Engaño.
“Bukod pa dun sa anim na Chinese Coast Guard vessels na umiikot sa atin when we were at a distance of 20 nautical miles away from Escoda Shoal, we’re also anticipating na we also have to deal with these 36 Chinese maritime militia vessels, and then one China Coast Guard vessel and a rescue ship na nandiyan sa Escoda Shoal,” Tarriela said.
Tarriela noted that among the six China Coast Guard vessels that appeared Monday, were two vessels also responsible for ramming PCG vessels previously.
“If there is one state actor that violates and no longer adheres to the UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, that will only be the People’s Republic of China. With their excessive deployment of maritime forces, as you can see from the monitor, it just goes to show that they are blatantly disregarding the provisions of UNCLOS…[17:58] This is not a law enforcement security measure. This is purely harassment carried out by the Chinese Coast Guard that is unprofessional, illegal, unlawful.,” Tarriela said.
China has used the presence of the BRP Teresa Magbanua in Escoda Shoal as a justification for its actions during an August 25 incident, that also resulted in a CCG vessel deliberately ramming the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel, BRP Datu Sanday.
Despite the absence of any legal basis, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs insists that BRP Teresa Magbanua’s presence in Escoda Shoal infringes on China’s sovereignty.
“For some time, the Philippines has repeatedly sent coast guard vessels and official vessels to intrude into the adjacent waters of Xianbin Jiao in an attempt to send supplies to the Philippine coast guard vessel, which has been anchoring in the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao for a long time, and seek long-term presence there. The Philippines’ move seriously infringes on China’s sovereignty, violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and threatens the peace and stability in the South China Sea. China urges the Philippines to stop the infringement and provocation activities at once, and withdraw the vessel immediately. China will continue to take resolute measures in accordance with law to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and uphold the sanctity of the DOC,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian claimed.
Tarriela rejected this narrative and asserted that Escoda Shoal, which is only 85 nautical miles away from Rizal, Palawan, is clearly within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone.
Tarriela added that BRP Teresa Magbanua’s deployment is not military in nature.
“It cannot be interpreted as a military operation because it’s not military personnel and military assets that are being used to provide the means for us to bring supply on board Teresa Magbanua. And of course, Teresa Magbanua is an active, commissioned Coast Guard vessel,” Tarriela said.
Tarriela said BRP Teresa Magbanua was deployed to Escoda Shoal in order to guard against illegal activities, including Chinese reclamation and poaching.
“The commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard has made it very clear, we’re not going to withdraw our forces that would allow China to permanently occupy it,” Tarriela.
Tarriela added that Escoda Shoal is important to the Philippines, not only due to its proximity to the mainland, but also due to its proximity to other contested features in the West Philippine Sea.
“Para lang siyang isang straight line. You have Mischief Reef or Panganiban Reef na inoccupy nila sa atin nung 1995 and was already reclaimed and now a military base of the People’s Republic of China. And then Ayungin Shoal, and then Sabina (Escoda) Shoal…so if ever, mawala sa atin ang Escoda Shoal, that would be very easy for China, let us say i-occupy nila? That would be very easy for China to prevent whatever resupply operation that we intend to carry out in Ayungin Shoal. Because they can basically block it on both sides,” he explained.