Amid the ongoing efforts between China and the Philippines to deescalate the tension in the West Philippine Sea, the Chinese Coast Guard’s largest ship referred to as “The Monster” was again spotted near the Sabina Shoal.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), former US Air Force official and defense attache Ray Powell disclosed that China Coast Guard 5901 was spotted on Wednesday night at the Sabina Shoal where Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua is stationed.
“Tonight at Sabina (Escoda) Shoal in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, China’s massive 12,000-ton intimidator China Coast Guard 5901 (“The Monster’), now keeps watch over the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Teresa Magbanua,” Powell said in his post.
A few hours later, Powell reposted a tweet from the Maritime Awareness Daily which stated that a total of 23 Chinese vessels were spotted near the Panganiban Reef and Ayungin Shoal.
The Ayungin Shoal is where the Philippine Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre is located and has been serving as a military outpost.
“Activity around 2nd Thomas Shoal/Sabina Shoals today—a China Coast Guard and militia deployed in 2-line “blockade” formation near 2TS near mouth of the shoal and 15nm east,” the post read.
“One militia ship moving SE (southeast) of Sabina. “The Monster” (CCG 5901) still at Sabina—600m from BRP Teresa Magbanua,” the post added.
The latest intrusion in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone came a day after the Philippine and Chinese government tried to iron things out in the West Philippine Sea through a Bilateral Consultation Meeting on July 2 following the violent incident at the Ayungin Shoal.
Both the PCG and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are yet to issue a statement regarding the reported monitoring of the CCG 5901 and Chinese militia vessels at the 2nd Thomas Shoal and Sabina Shoal.