China’s monster ship sails near Escoda Shoal on June 24, 2024. Philippine Coast Guard

MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday said China’s massive ship, dubbed “The Monster,” was still at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, anchored just over 600 yards away from the Philippines’ BRP Teresa Magbanua.

PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the 165-meter China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901 “never departed” the unoccupied reef near Palawan island since July 3.

“As of 7:30 in the morning, the last image that I got from our coast guard personnel from MRRV 9701, the China Coast Guard monster ship remains to be inside the Escoda Shoal, it has not departed and still anchored there,” Tarriela said in a media forum in Manila.

Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said on Tuesday that the monster ship had left the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

“Sa Escoda Shoal, wala na. Walang pumalit. Wala na,” he said in a chance interview with reporters. 

Former United States Air Force officer Ray Powell, director of maritime transparency initiative SeaLight, said the confusion over the location of The Monster was probably because it moved outside Escoda for three days, from July 12 to 15.

“For most of that time it remained just to the northeast, except for a brief patrol to the south on the 15th,” Powell said.

“The most likely explanation for their temporary departure would appear to be sea state. Wave heights were elevated during that period so the ships likely moved to safer locations as a precaution,” he added.

‘INCURSIVE PRESENCE’ NEAR LUBANG ISLAND 

Meantime, Tarriela said the PCG deployed its 97-meter-long multi-role response vessel BRP Mechora Aquino “to closely monitor” the “incursive presence” of 135-meter CCG vessel with bow number 5303 that sailed near Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro over the past few days.

“It was reported that it came close to Lubang Island at a distance of 60 nautical miles. That is also true. I would like to confirm that the China Coast Guard vessel was monitored in that area,” Tarriela said.

The Chinese vessel has moved away towards El Nido, Palawan, he said. 

Chinese ship holds 'intrusive patrol' near Lubang Island

Tarriela said the foreign vessel has not clarified its intention despite the Philippines’ persistent radio challenges.

“The same thing, the usual, whenever you challenge them, they’re also going to challenge our presence back,” he said. “So far, we haven’t gotten any tangible response.”

Asked if the Philippines has an ongoing activity in the waters off Lubang Island, Tarriela briefly responded, “I won’t comment.”

– With a report from Agence France-Presse