THE biggest vessel of the China Coast Guard (CCG) has returned for another “intrusive patrol” in the Philippine exclusive economic zone, a maritime expert said yesterday.
The disclosure of retired US Air Force Col. Ray Powell came a day after the Philippine Navy said it noted a decrease in the presence of warships from China’s People’s Liberation Army-Navy as well as patrol ships from the CCG and maritime militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.
“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,” said Powell, who is also the program head of Standford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation monitoring Chinese activities in the South China Sea.
As of yesterday morning, there were 10 Chinese vessels in or around Ayungin Shoal.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has yet to issue a statement on Powell’s disclosure on the return of the “monster ship.”
Last week, the 13,000-ton patrol ship also conducted “intrusive” patrol in similar features in the West Philippine Sea and at one time was monitored by the PCG only 34 nautical miles away from El Nido in Palawan.
Powell said such actions align with Beijing’s expansive claim of sovereignty in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, even if such claims had been invalidated in 2016 by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Beijing has refused to abide or honor the arbitral ruling.
China’s sweeping claim in the South China Sea overlaps with that claims of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
The Armed Forces said it will ask Sen. Imee Marcos for details on her claim that
that 25 areas in the country are potential targets of China’s “hypersonic missiles” because those are being used by US forces under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
“We are ready to coordinate with Senator Marcos to obtain details and take appropriate actions to ensure our nation’s security,” said AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla.
Marcos, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a Facebook post that the Chinese hypersonic missiles will target several EDCA sites in the country.
Hypersonic missiles are five times faster than the speed of sound, making it more difficult for air defenses to intercept.
China, Russia and the United States have deployed or are working to deploy fully operational hypersonic missiles in their inventory.
The Marcos administration last year added four to the original five EDCA sites where US troops can station their supplies and equipment. Malacañang has said the sites will be used for humanitarian and relief operations during emergencies and natural disasters as well as for storage and warehouse facilities for military logistics, among others.
Three of the EDCA sites are located in northern Luzon close to Taiwan, which is being claimed by China as part of its territory, namely Lal-lo airport and Camilo Osias Naval Base in Cagayan, and Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Upi Gamu, Isabela.
Chinese officials said these sites can be used by the US to conduct surveillance on their forces, and to possibly intervene if tension in the Taiwan Strait worsens.
Another site is in Balabac, Palawan, near the disputed South China Sea where Beijing has constructed military facilities on artificial islands it has built.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Manila have yet to react to Marcos’ remarks.
