PH staying put at Escoda Shoal

Speaker says Filipinos’ patience ‘wearing thin;’ US, UK condemn China

The Philippines is staying put at Escoda Shoal despite China’s continuous efforts to drive it out of the waters located some 140 kilometers off Palawan and well within Manila’s 200-kilometer Exclusive Economic Zone.

In a statement, the National Maritime Council (NMC) said the Philippine Navy ship stationed at the atoll is not budging despite having been deliberately rammed several times by a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel early Saturday afternoon.

“The BRP Teresa Magbanua will remain and maintain its operations in the West Philippine Sea. We will not succumb to acts of harassment and aggressive behavior.”

CCG 5205 can clearly be seen in a viral video hitting the Philippine ship thrice during the encounter.

“The Philippines condemns this unprovoked aggression and remains steadfast in upholding its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea,” the NMC also stated.

Despite the latest attack, the council avowed that Manila would continue its sovereign operations in its maritime zones.

The NMC urged counterparts in Beijing to exercise restraint and prioritize the safety of vessels at sea and aircraft within its airspace.

It can be recalled that CCG 5205 was responsible for pointing a military-grade laser at the crew on BRP Malapascua on Feb. 6, 2023, while the PN ship was on a rotation and resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal, which is around 67 kilometers from Escoda.

Despite the NMC’s carefully selected words, policymakers in Manila seem to be rethinking the wisdom of maintaining their “maximum tolerance” policy against China’s bellicose behavior.

On Sunday, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez issued a strong warning, affirming that the Philippines is fully prepared to defend its sovereignty in the face of escalating Chinese aggression in the WPS.

“The Philippines remains committed to dialogue and a peaceful resolution, but we also stand ready to safeguard our sovereignty. We call for respect, and we are determined to meet any challenges that may arise. For the Philippines, for our future, and for our sovereignty, we will stand firm,” he warned.

He noted that while the Philippine government would rather engage in constructive dialogue, “the country’s patience is wearing thin.”

Meanwhile, the Philippines’ key allies castigated Beijing for its relentless efforts to provoke its neighbor.

“The United States stands with its ally, the Philippines, and condemns the dangerous and escalatory actions by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) against lawful Philippine maritime operations in the vicinity of Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea on August 31,” US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

“The United States reiterates its call for the PRC to comport its claims and actions with international law and to desist from dangerous and destabilizing conduct, he added”

Washington also expressed fears that China’s “unlawful claims of territorial sovereignty over ocean areas where no land territory exists, and its increasingly aggressive actions to enforce them, threaten the freedoms of navigation and overflight of all nations.”

For her part, British Ambassador Laure Beaufils said on X (formerly Twitter) that the United Kingdom “is concerned about reports of yet more dangerous actions by a Chinese vessel near Sabina Shoal.”

She urged China’s leaders to respect international law and adhere to the 2016 Arbitral Award which, she pointed out, “is legally binding on the parties.”