Chinese boat seen roaming shoal in SCS, says expert
Credit to Author: Dempsey Reyes| Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2020 16:26:51 +0000
While its sister ship is on a “friendly visit” in Manila, another Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel was spotted roaming Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, according to a maritime expert.
Ryan Martinson, an assistant professor at the US Naval War College, posted on his Twitter an imagery that tracks the movements of the ship within the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal.
“The Philippines rolls out the red carpet for the Commander of the China Coast Guard.
Meanwhile, a China Coast Guard ship steams back and forth, menacing Philippine Marines posted at Second Thomas Shoal,” Martinson posted on Wednesday.
He was referring to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre, where forces from the Philippine Marine Corps are stationed on a rotation basis.
The BRP Sierra Madre ran aground in 1999.
Martinson also disclosed on his post that the ship found to have been sailing back and forth at Ayungin Shoal belongs to the same unit of the visiting CCG vessel in Manila, which was given a warm welcome by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The visiting CCG ship’s hull number is 5204, while that of the spotted vessel within Ayungin Shoal is 5402.
Also on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian joined bilateral talks between the coast guards of Manila and Beijing.
PCG commandant Adm. Joel Garcia discussed only anti-piracy and anti-terrorism efforts in the southernmost islands of the country.
It was not clear, however, if the issue hounding China pertaining to its behavior in the South China Sea (SCS or West Philippine Sea) was opened for discussion.
The Manila Times tried to reach Lorenzana for confirmation and comment on the spotted Chinese vessel but he was yet to respond as of press time.