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PH Navy slams China's naval drill off Escoda Shoal

Philippines | National

PH Navy slams China's naval drill off Escoda Shoal

By Martin Sadongdong

Escoda Shoal.jpg — Escoda Shoal (Courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard)

The Philippine Navy (PN) said Tuesday, June 4, that China has no right to hold a military exercise within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

This, as Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, PN spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS), confirmed that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy of China conducted a two-day unilateral naval drill off Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) over the weekend.

According to Trinidad, the naval drill was held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 2, and Monday, June 3.

“They have no right to be within our EEZ. The conduct of that exercise is unauthorized under UNCLOS [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea],” he told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Trinidad said the drill involved the launching of the hovercrafts of PLA Navy aircraft and “some maneuvers at sea.”

Escoda Shoal is located around 71 nautical miles (131 km) from the nearest coastline of Palawan.

It serves as a rendezvous point for the resupply mission of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal. It is where the resupply boats chartered by the AFP meet their escort vessels from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to bring supplies for troops onboard BRP Sierra Madre.

The PCG deployed BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV 9701), its biggest ship, to Escoda Shoal to prevent alleged attempt by China to build another artificial island in the WPS.

BRP Teresa Magbanua was deployed to Escoda Shoal on April 18 upon the orders of PCG Commandant, Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan, when PCG and marine scientific experts from the University of the Philippines (UP) noticed the dumping of dead and crushed corals on the sandbars of Escoda Shoal in what was suspected as another reclamation activity in the WPS.

Read related story: PCG moves to defend Escoda Shoal as China is accused of building new artificial island

Related Tags

Armed Forces of the Philippines West Philippine Sea (WPS) Escoda Shoal

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