A photo from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shows the Chinese Coast Guard maintaining its presence in Ayungin Shoal and Sabina Shoal, both within the PH’s exclusive economic zone during a PCG Maritime Domain Awareness flight on February 21, 2023. Courtesy NTF West Philippine Sea

MANILA (UPDATED) — An analyst said Sunday that China’s supposed reclamation attempt in Escoda Shoal (Sabina Shoal), which is just 75 nautical miles or around 120 kilometers off the coast of Palawan island, is a threat to Philippine security.

Chester Cabalza, president of Manila-based think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, said China has been eyeing Escoda as an extension of Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef), which Chinese forces occupied in 1995.

“There were attempts in the past years where Beijing wanted to possess the shoal considering its strategic value to their claims in the South China Sea,” Cabalza told ABS-CBN News.

“The tendency is, of course, it becomes a buffer zone. Kapag nagkaroon ng kaguluhan, napakalapit nila sa atin,” he added.

(If there is trouble, they are so close to us)

PCG: Escoda Shoal in sorry state after coral dumping for reclamation attempt

Following a three-week survey, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela on Saturday said crushed corals had been discovered dumped at Escoda. 

He said the dumping may be a prelude to the emergence of an artificial island.

Escoda is a barangay and part of the Kalayaan Group of Islands, according to Cabalza.

“This is an attempt by China to deliberately occupy a shoal that is administratively, geographically and legally owned by the province of Palawan,” he said.

“Malaking bagay ‘yon para sa kanila because it’s part of the psychological warfare na nakuha nila ‘yong isang pag-aari ng Pilipinas.”

'CHINA WANTS OUTPOST NEAR RECTO BANK'

Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said China’s reclamation is Escoda could lead to the putting up of an outpost near the Recto Bank (Reed Bank), which is believed to be rich in oil and gas deposits.

“What they are planning to do is to have an outpost near the Reed Bank to prevent us from getting the gas,” Carpio told ABS-CBN News. 

“The challenge for us is how to get the gas in Reed Bank. If they put up an outpost there, that will make it more difficult for us.”

In a statement, Tom Wu, director of the media section of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, insisted Beijing’s “indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and the adjacent waters” is based on history.

“Chinese activities in the South China Sea date back to over 2,000 years ago. China was the first country to discover, name, explore, and exploit the resources of the South China Sea Islands and the first to continuously exercise sovereign powers over them,” he said.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague in 2016 rejected the basis for nearly all of China’s expansive maritime and territorial claims in the South China Sea.

It determined that China’s “nine-dash line” maritime claim was inconsistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and that Beijing had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Carpio said the Philippines should file a fresh case against China for damaging Escoda Shoal and creating an artificial island.

“We’re the only ones who can build an artificial island on our exclusive economic zone — so that will be in violation of UNCLOS, in violation of the arbitral tribunal. And if they are building there now, that means they are the one who destroyed Escoda Shoal,” he added.