A news report about the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spotting Chinese boats on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) surfaces. Chinese patrol boats were sighted near Sabina Shoal, just 140 kilometers from Palawan.
The issue about the West Philippine Sea is a longstanding dispute. Despite it being eight years since the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague rejected China’s nine-dash line claim, tensions continue.
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However, reports from June of this year indicate that China has dumped dead corals into Sabina Shoal, also known as Escoda Shoal, which is part of the West Philippine Sea.
Tighter PCG operations in the area began in April of this year. This was after dead corals were allegedly dumped by China in the area. Since then the BRP Teresa Magbanua was deployed to monitor China’s reclamation efforts in the area.
Aside from this, Chinese researchers were also spotted in the West Philippine Sea. Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio shared the importance of Sabina Shoal. It is very close to Recto (Reed) Bank, which is rich in oil deposits.
While the Philippines’ largest ship patrols the area, Chinese vessels are still present in the area. This area is also the rendezvous point for resupply missions for Filipino troops deployed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
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More recent reports say that China’s coast guard is monitoring Philippine patrols over “indisputable sovereignty” over the location. Chinese Coast Guard spokesperson, Gan Yu, shared in a statement on Sunday that they have been monitoring Filipino troops. They have been doing this since Saturday, August 3.
Their spokesperson further added that Philippine Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Bureau boats were spotted. Multiple fishing boats were also reported near the area by a PCG ship. According to China, this vessel is “illegally stranded” in the area.
In a recent news report from GMA News, the Philippine Coast Guard spotted a Chinese Research Vessel in Sabina Shoal. Due to this, they have added extra security measures for the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Bureau. They’re also supplying fuel assistance to fishermen in the area.
See GMA’s latest news on the West Philippine Sea here:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=513645507779455
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