6 other Chinese boats shadowed PCG vessels
A VESSEL of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) yesterday “intercepted” two ships of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) near Ayungin Shoal, a Philippine-occupied feature in the contested West Philippine Sea, according to an American maritime security expert.
Ray Powell, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), said six Chinese maritime militia vessels also shadowed the PCG vessels BRP Cabra and BRP Cape Engano.
Ayungin Shoal, internationally known as Second Thomas Shoal, is about 108 nautical miles from Rizal, Palawan. It is occupied by Filipino troops who are billeted at the BRP Sierra Madre, a rusting Navy ship which was grounded at the shoal in 1999 to serve as a military outpost.
“They have been intercepted by China Coast Guard 5203 and at least six maritime militia vessels, now closely shadowing,” said Powell, referring to the two PCG vessels.
He said the BRP Cabra and BRP Cape Engano were interdicted at around 7 a.m. yesterday. As of around 1 a.m. yesterday, Powell said, the PCG vessels were passing 14 nautical miles east of Ayungin Shoal.
He said the BRP Cabra and BRP Cape Engano illuminated their automatic identification system, a tracking system, around midnight while they were about 18 nautical miles south of the shoal.
“China reacted by dispatching seven more militia (vessels) to bolster their blockade around 2TS (Second Thomas Shoal) while CCG 5203 went south and first interdicted the two Philippine ships at 0700 (7 a.m.),” he said.
At around 4 p.m., Powell said, BRP Cabra and BRP Cape Engano were moving away from the shoal, towards the unoccupied Escoda Shoal, whose international name is Sabina Shoal.
“China Coast Guard 5203 (was) still shadowing while militia ships remain in position east of 2TS,” added Powell.
A PCG vessel, BRP Teresa Magbanua, has been deployed at Escoda Shoal since April amid constant presence of Chinese vessels in the area.
China’s “monster ship,” CCG 5901, was spotted at Ayungin Shoal on July 3 and it remained anchored there as of last Saturday, about 800 meters from the BRP Teresa Magbanua.
The CCG’s 165-meter vessel is the world’s largest Coast Guard ship.
The PCG on Saturday said BRP Teresa Magbanua “asked the intention of the Chinese ship and emphasized that it was operating within the Philippines’ EEZ (exclusive economic zone).” The PCG said the Chinese vessel responded by saying China has sovereignty over the area.
Sought for a confirmation of Powell’s tweets, Philippine Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said, “Please check with PCG.”
Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman for West Philippine Sea, did not answer messages seeking confirmation and details about the incident.
Chinese vessels have harassed Philippine military resupply missions at Ayungin Shoal in the past months.
The last was last on June 17, resulting in severe injury to a Philippine Navy sailor. The Chinese also took seven firearms and other equipment of the Filipino troops and damaged P60 million worth of equipment, including two rigid-hull inflatable boats.
AWARENESS
About 7,000 runners took part in yesterday’s “Takbo para sa West Philippine Sea” in Pasay City.
The activity was organized by Runrio Inc, along with the PCG, National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, Philippine Information Agency, and the Presidential Communications Office.
It is meant to raise the awareness of Filipinos about the issues on the West Philippine Sea and boost the morale of Armed Forces and PCG personnel involved in protecting the country’s rights in the contested area.
In a statement, Tarriela said the high turnout of participants indicates that ordinary Filipino are supportive of the government’s advocacy in the West Philippine Sea.
“Our intention for this activity is to [raise] awareness,” he said. “We are propagating the efforts of the national government to assert our right in the West Philippine Sea.”
A similar activity is scheduled in Cebu City on August 4 and in Cagayan de Oro City on September 8.
Proceeds from the event will be used to support the comic book project “Ang mga Kuwento ni Teacher Jun (The Stories of Teacher Jun)” which talks about the WPS.
The book will also discuss the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) to simplify how to understand the 2016 Arbitral Ruling, which invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea.
Senate majority leader Francis Tolentino, one of the lead participants in the activity, said the “Takbo para sa West Philippine Sea” has raised the awareness of the people on the issues, which is “key to rallying Filipinos to take a united stand on this issue.”
“This shows our unity in response to what is happening in our seas. So, this is good because we have a lot of youth here. So, the level of awareness has been raised,” he said in Filipino on the sidelines of the event.
Tolentino, also the chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Maritime and Admiralty Zones, said creating awareness among participants through the advocacy run is important amid the bullying of China within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
FUNDING SUPPORT
Tolentino said Congress will throw its full support for various agencies keeping watch over the WPS by making some “incremental increases” to their respective fundings when lawmakers tackle the 2025 proposed national budget.
Tarriela said they will ask lawmakers to allot funds for the creation of a National Research Fleet which he said would allow the country to pursue its marine research programs to be led by scientists from the University of the Philippines’ Marine Science Institute.
THAI NAVY
The Department of National Defense (DND) and the Royal Thai Navy have agreed to increase navy-to-navy activities between the two countries as they cited the need to sustain partnership and vision of peace and security in the region.
Defense undersecretary Angelito de Leon and visiting Adm. Adoong Pan-Iam, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy, made the agreement during the latter’s courtesy call last Thursday, DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said yesterday.
“As the Philippines and Thailand commemorated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two officials underscored the importance of sustaining defense partnership and a shared vision of peace and security in the region,” he said.
“Both officials agreed to increase navy-to-navy engagements through established dialogue mechanisms,” Andolong also said, without elaborating on these engagements.
Andolong said De Leon discussed with Pan-Iam the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) which is being implemented by the Armed Forces to better secure the country’s territory.
Andolong said Thailand “could be among the Philippines’ partners in developing its self-reliant defense posture” in line with the CADC implementation.
He said Pan-Iam shared during the meeting Thailand’s “best practices” in the manufacture of its ammunition, weapons, missiles, and naval assets, particularly offshore patrol vessels and spare parts for frigates.
“He also mentioned Thailand’s willingness to support Philippine defense industries through enhanced partnership and collaboration,” Andolong said of the Thai Navy chief.
COOPERATION
Andolong said De Leon also discussed possible areas of cooperation in the implementation of the 2021 Memorandum of Understanding on Logistics and Defense Industry Cooperation between the two countries.
He said this included “linkages with tech and systems developers to jointly enhance cybersecurity, and ensure the protection of cyber-networks as both countries recognize the importance of cyber defense in protecting critical infrastructure.”
“Both officials also look forward to other commemorative activities in relation to the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, particularly the official visit to the Philippines of the Defense Minister of Thailand this year,” he said.
Pan-Iam was in the Philippines for a three-day visit. He met with Philippine Navy vice commander Rear Adm. Caesar Bernard Valencia also last Thursday at the Navy headquarters in Manila.
The Philippine Navy said Valencia and Pan-Iam discussed the “long-standing partnership and cooperation between the PN (Philippine Navy) and the RTN (Royal Thai Navy)” during the meeting.
“The official visit of Adm. Pan-Iam to the PN is a manifestation of a collaborative maritime endeavor, highlighting both nations’ dedication to promoting peace, stability, and security in the region,” said Navy spokesman Cdr. John Percie Alcos said. — With Raymond Africa
