The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday, June 25, that it was closely monitoring the presence of what is believed to be the world’s largest coast guard vessel owned by China, known as the “Monster” for its sheer size, near the BRP Sierra Madre outpost in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.
Colonel Xerxes Trinidad, chief of AFP public affairs office, said the military received reports of the said China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel with bow number “5901” cruising near the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era warship by the Philippine Navy (PN) that was deliberately ran aground the disputed shoal in the late 90s to assert the country’s rights over the area.
“The presence of this 12,000-ton CCG ship near BRP Sierra Madre is part of a broader pattern of intrusive patrols aimed at asserting unlawful claims over areas within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ),” Trinidad said.
Maritime security analyst Ray Powell said CCG 5901 passed close by the BRP Sierra Madre around 9 a.m. on Monday, June 24.
By 4 p.m., the CCG vessel was spotted approaching Escoda (Sabina) Shoal where Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship BRP Teresa Magbanua has been stationed since April to guard against suspected reclamation activities.
“We emphasize that such actions by the CCG are illegal, coercive, and contrary to the spirit of maintaining peace and stability in the region,” Trinidad said.
Further, the military official noted that the AFP has been patrolling the entire WPS as part of its commitment to maritime domain awareness and the protection of the country’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and sovereign rights.
Trinidad said the AFP remains vigilant and steadfast in its mission to uphold international maritime laws, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“Our forces will continue to monitor and report any developments in the WPS in the performance of our mandate. We call on all nations to respect international law and to refrain from actions that escalate tensions in the WPS,” he said.
Last week, CCG personnel obstructed a resupply mission by the AFP to the BRP Sierra Madre. The incident turned violent as the CCG rammed the boats of the AFP and boarded them to confiscate firearms and destroy equipment, used bladed weapons to puncture holes on the Filipino vessels, and deployed tear gas and blinding lights to confuse the Filipino troops. The chaos led to the dismemberment of a finger of an AFP trooper.
The National Maritime Council (NMC) initially described the incident as a "misunderstanding or accident".
However, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. clarified it was a deliberate act on the part of the CCG to stop the resupply mission, saying the national government was not downplaying the aggression by Chinese forces towards the Filipino troops.