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It was a match of 40 Chinese language ships in opposition to 2 PCG vessels throughout an August 26 try and carry provides to the BRP Teresa Magbanua
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday, August 26, Nationwide Heroes’ Day within the Philippines, urged their Chinese language counterparts to observe worldwide legislation and “cease deploying maritime forces that might undermine mutual respect” after the China Coast Guard (CCG) “deployed extreme pressure” to cease a resupply mission to the BRP Teresa Magbanua in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal.
The BRP Teresa Magbanua, one of many PCG’s two 97-meter ships, has been on an “prolonged patrol” in Escoda Shoal since April 2024. Because it has not docked on land in over 5 months, it depends on resupply missions from smaller PCG vessels to carry important provides, together with meals, for its personnel.
In a press release launched late Monday night, the PCG stated China deployed 40 ships, together with six China Coast Guard vessels and three Folks’s Liberation Military Navy warships “in an try and impede our lawful humanitarian operation.” Thirty-one Chinese language Maritime Militia ships have been additionally within the neighborhood of the shoal in the course of the August 26 mission.
“Such actions resulted in our two 44-meter Multi-Function Response Vessels (MRRV) being unable to soundly ship important provides, together with a particular ice cream deal with from the Commandant in honor of Nationwide Heroes’ Day,” the PCG stated.
The PCG deployed on August 26 the BRP Cabra and BRP Cape Engaño for a “humanitarian operation” to carry provides to the BRP Teresa Magbanua. The PCG had introduced the mission early Monday by way of a Discover to All Mariners.
“The PCG stays steadfast in our dedication to uphold nationwide pursuits and make sure the security and safety of our waters. We urge the China Coast Guard to abide with the worldwide legislation and cease deploying maritime forces that might undermine mutual respect, a universally acknowledged basis for accountable and pleasant relations amongst Coast Guards,” stated the PCG within the assertion.
“The PCG acknowledges that white hulls are distinctive devices of diplomacy that promotes peace and preserve concord and stability within the area,” the PCG added.
The day prior, a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Sources (BFAR) vessel was rammed and topic to water cannons by CCG ships some 10 nautical miles away from Escoda Shoal.
The shoal, a low tide elevation positioned some 75 nautical miles away from Palawan, has quickly changed into a new flashpoint for tensions between the Philippines and China within the West Philippine Sea.
China has protested the Magbanua’s “prolonged patrol” of Escoda Shoal, and suspects the Philippines of wanting to determine it as a makeshift outpost prefer it did the BRP Sierra Madre in close by Ayungin Shoal. Sarcastically, the BRP Teresa Magbanua was first deployed to Escoda over issues that China was working to reclaim the function, very similar to it did different options within the West Philippine Sea, or components of the South China Sea that features the Philippines’ unique financial zone.
The blocking of PCG ships on August 26 is barely the most recent in a string of incidents between the Philippines and China within the West Philippine Sea up to now week. On August 19, two PCG vessels have been rammed by CCG vessels as they handed Escoda en path to Lawak and Patag islands within the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines has additionally reported China’s use of flares in opposition to aerial patrols over Scarborough Shoal and Subi Reef, a function that Beijing has since changed into a man-made island outpost.
Rising tensions within the West Philippine Sea come barely a month after the Manila and Beijing agreed to a “provisional settlement” to ease tensions throughout resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. – Rappler.com
