The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Saturday (July 6) that the China Coast Guard has anchored its largest vessel in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea in an attempt to intimidate the Philippines.
According to Reuters, Jay Tarriela, a spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard, stated at a news forum on Saturday that the Chinese coast guard’s 165-meter-long “giant vessel” entered the Philippines’ EEZ 200 nautical miles off its coast on July 2.
Tarriela mentioned that the Philippine Coast Guard warned the Chinese vessel for entering the Philippines’ EEZ and questioned their intentions. “This is an act of intimidation by the Chinese Coast Guard,” Tarriela said, adding, “We will not retreat, and we will not be intimidated.”
The Chinese coast guard ship is currently stationed near a Philippine coast guard vessel, with the two ships only 800 meters apart and a small boat also deployed.
The South China Sea is a crucial route for shipping trade worth trillions of dollars annually. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, covering EEZs claimed by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China’s extensive claims in the South China Sea had no legal basis, but China refused to accept the decision.
The Philippines and China have been embroiled in recent disputes in the South China Sea, with multiple clashes occurring at Second Thomas Shoal. China has continuously obstructed the Philippines from resupplying its troops stationed at the shoal.
On June 17, a collision between ships resulted in a Philippine vessel being pierced by the Chinese, who seized firearms and left a Filipino crew member severely injured.
China has also conducted massive land reclamation and construction of military facilities on some islands in the South China Sea, causing concerns for the United States and neighboring countries.
In May, the Philippine Coast Guard deployed a ship at Sabina Shoal to prevent China from further land reclamation, although China denied conducting such activities.
Recently, the Philippines and Beijing engaged in high-level talks, reaching an agreement on Tuesday to “restore trust” and “rebuild confidence” to better manage maritime disputes.