MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is actively monitoring a Chinese vessel Escoda Shoal navigating through hotspots in the West Philippine Sea. On Saturday, PCG spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea, Commo. Jay Tarriela, reported that China’s multi-purpose oceanographic research vessel, Ke Xue San Hao, was located north of Escoda Shoal, internationally known as Sabina Shoal.
The Chinese vessel Escoda Shoal has exhibited irregular Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmissions. Despite these irregularities, the vessel was detected by the Philippines using its dark vessel detection program. The PCG’s multi-role response vessel, BRP Teresa Magbanua, issued radio challenges and has been tracking the foreign vessel since it passed approximately 5.5 nautical miles dead astern of the Philippine ship.
Monitoring data shows that the vessel departed from China’s military base at Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef) on July 26. Since then, it has navigated through several critical locations including Ayungin Shoal, Raja Soliman Shoal, Bulig Shoal, Hasa-Hasa Shoal, Abad Santos Shoal, and eventually reached Escoda Shoal.
Ray Powell of South China Sea monitor SeaLight also tracked the movement of Ke Xue San Hao. In a tweet on Saturday, he noted, “China’s research vessel Ke Xue San Hao has been surveying the areas south and east of Sabina Shoal since 25 July, yesterday coming within 40 nautical miles of the Philippines’ island of Palawan.” Powell added that the surveyed area includes several significant maritime features such as First Thomas Shoal, Half Moon Shoal, Bombay Shoal, Royal Captain Shoal, Northeast Investigator Shoal, and Boxall Reef.
The Philippines has maintained its presence at Escoda Shoal through the BRP Teresa Magbanua since April, following the discovery of a supposed reclamation attempt by China.
The Ke Xue San Hao, designed by the Marine Design and Research Institute of China and constructed by Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Co., is equipped with advanced technology for comprehensive marine environment observation, detection, sampling, and analysis. This vessel has also conducted surveys in the resource-rich Philippine Rise in the past.
While China’s activities in the West Philippine Sea can be seen as a strategic assertion of its maritime claims, these actions are widely viewed as illegal under international law and a direct challenge to Philippine sovereignty. Upholding the rule of law and respecting the maritime boundaries established by UNCLOS are crucial for maintaining peace and stability in the region.
