6-7-2024 (MANILA) A colossal vessel belonging to the China Coast Guard, colloquially known as ‘The Monster’, has taken up position perilously close to a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship near Escoda Shoal. The standoff, which began on 3 July, has raised concerns about China’s increasingly assertive presence in contested waters.
PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, revealed that the 165-metre Chinese vessel CCG-5901 is maintaining a distance of merely 700 metres from the BRP Teresa Magbanua. The proximity of the two ships has created a tense atmosphere in the region, with the Philippine vessel issuing hourly radio challenges to its Chinese counterpart.
“The China Coast Guard monster ship is currently on the starboard side of our vessel,” Tarriela stated during a press briefing. “We continue to challenge their presence via radio calls, informing them that their anchorage is within our country’s exclusive economic zone and that they lack jurisdiction in this area.”
The arrival of the Chinese behemoth follows a curious pattern of movement. Utilising Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection technology, the PCG tracked the ship as it lingered near Ayungin Shoal for two days before advancing to its current position. This manoeuvre has not gone unnoticed, especially given its timing shortly after bilateral consultations between the Philippines and China on South China Sea matters.
Using Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection technology, the Philippine Coast Guard was able to successfully track the movements of the Chinese Coast Guard’s 165-meter monster ship, CCG-5901.
On July 1st, the ship departed from Hainan and entered the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic… pic.twitter.com/29OFMnVh0X
— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) July 5, 2024
Former US Air Force officer Ray Powell, now director of the maritime transparency initiative Sealight, offered insight into China’s strategy. “From a Chinese perspective, projecting force, particularly with an imposing vessel like the monster ship, allows them to negotiate from a position of strength,” Powell explained to ABS-CBN News. He further noted China’s tendency to place the onus of de-escalation on other parties, effectively pushing for concessions in exchange for stability.
The PCG remains steadfast in its resolve, with Tarriela asserting, “Regardless of the number or type of vessels China deploys, the Philippine Coast Guard will not be intimidated. We have clear guidance from our president and the PCG commandant to maintain our presence at Escoda Shoal.”
