The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday strongly asserted that Escoda Shoal is located within Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) according to international law in the West Philippine Sea and has sovereign rights to operate there, despite China’s opposing claims.
PCG Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, made the statement in response to the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s formal protest about the presence of the PCG vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua at the disputed atoll.
Tarriela emphasized that Escoda Shoal falls within the Philippines’ EEZ, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral award.
“Our Philippine Coast Guard vessels have the right to operate within the lagoon of Escoda Shoal for as long as necessary, without requiring permission from any other country,” said the PCG official.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry claimed the BRP Teresa Magbanua’s presence at the Escoda Shoal, which it refers to as Xianbin Jiao, “violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and threatens peace and stability in the South China Sea.”
Tarriela slammed the ministry’s statement, saying that China should stop citing the 2002 declaration “as they have not honored or followed a single provision of that declaration.” Escoda Shoal is 123.6 nautical miles from the Philippine Island of Palawan.
“As far as the region is concerned, it is only Beijing that constantly violates this declaration. They have been deploying their large Coast Guard vessels there, complemented by their numerous Chinese Maritime Militia,” the PCG official said.
“Additionally, they have deployed their naval assets in Escoda Shoal, and these actions undermine stability in these waters and contribute to escalating tensions,” he added.
Tarriela further clarified that the PCG deployed a vessel to Escoda Shoal not to provoke or escalate tensions, but to protect and uphold the Philippines’ sovereign rights over these waters.
The deployment, according to Tarriela, also aims to guard against illegal poaching and activities that harm the marine environment.
BRP Teresa Magbanua has been stationed at the Escoda Shoal since April amid reports of China’s reclamation activities in the area.
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