‘Quad’ states take firmer stance as Biden says ‘China testing us’
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday, confirmed that they successfully deployed one of their vessels in Escoda Shoal without having been confronted by Chinese ships along the way.
In an interview, PCG commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said “no significant adverse situation” greeted the PCG vessel as it arrived at the contested shoal.
He assured that the PCG would not seek to match China’s bellicose posturing in the WPS.
“Our approach is always peaceful and rules-based as much as possible,” the PCG chief said.
For his part, PCG spokesperson, Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said the ship that relieved the damaged BRP Teresa Magbanua had already commenced patrolling the waters around the atoll, which falls within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“We have patrol operations in the area and that is what we assure our compatriots and the PCG will not neglect patrolling the area,” Balilo said.
Earlier, the PCG said that an undetermined number of Chinese ships had gathered at Escoda in apparent anticipation of the arrival of BRP Magbanua’s replacement.
This reportedly constrained the crew of the unnamed PCG reliever vessel to turn its automatic identification systems (AIS) transponder off while en route to the shoal.
National Maritime Council spokesperson Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez announced that the Philippines will no longer publicly disclose ship details to avoid aiding China, which has stationed vessels in the area west of Palawan.
As this developed, US President Joe Biden was caught on a hot mic on Saturday telling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that China is “testing us.”
“China continues to behave aggressively, testing us all across the region,” the US leader was overheard saying during a closed-door session of the four nations that have collectively become known as “the Quad.”
“We condemn the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, including increasing use of dangerous maneuvers,” the four leaders said in the strongly-worded statement that still failed to mention China by name.
Ray Powell, director of SeaLight at Stanford University, reported on X that eight Chinese militia ships were moved from Panganiban (Mischief) Reef to Escoda, and two more were sent to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, along with a China Coast Guard vessel spotted southwest of Palawan.
Powell noted that the reasons behind this increased activity remain unclear.
“What generated this sudden activity is unclear,” Powell said.
He described the Qiong Sansha Yu ships as paramilitary vessels masquerading as fishing boats.
According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, nine CCG vessels, four Chinese warships and 52 maritime militia vessels were swarming Escoda on Sept. 16, two days after the PCG’s BRP Teresa Magbanua left the shoal after nearly five months of deployment.
Escoda, about 139 km west of Palawan province, has become the latest flashpoint in the maritime dispute between the Philippines and China.
