August 19, 2024
MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday told China that the Escoda Shoal where its ship BRP Teresa Magbanua has been stationed is within the Philippine exclusive economic zone so the agency has “the right to operate” there.
PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela issued his statement after China lodged a diplomatic protest against the “illegal anchoring” of BRP Teresa Magbanua at the Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
“Escoda Shoal is located within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitral award,” Tarriela posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“Our Philippine Coast Guard vessels have the right to operate within the lagoon of Escoda Shoal for as long as necessary, without requiring permission from any other country,” he added.
Tariella also said that China should stop citing the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea “as they have not honored or followed a single provision of that declaration.”
“As far as the region is concerned, it is only Beijing that constantly violates this declaration. They have been deploying their large Coast Guard vessels there, complemented by their numerous Chinese Maritime Militia. Additionally, they have deployed their naval assets in Escoda Shoal, and these actions undermine stability in these waters and contribute to escalating tensions,” he said.
“Moreover, the Philippine Coast Guard has deployed there not to provoke or escalate tensions; rather, it aims to protect and safeguard our sovereign rights over these waters, particularly against illegal poachers engaged in IUUF (illegal, unreported, and unregulated) and activities that damage our marine environment,” he added.
China is claiming that the “illegal anchoring” of the BRP Teresa Magbanua at the Escoda Shoal “seriously infringes” its “sovereignty.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said the Escoda Shoal, which the Chinese call Xianbin Jiao, is part of China’s Nansha Qundao or the Spratly Islands.