Chinese vessel seen shadowing PCG ship near Panatag Shoal

A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship has been monitored shadowing a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal as well as following Philippine ships supposedly patrolling the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), a maritime security expert said yesterday.

- PIA LEE-BRAGO and GHIO ONG

Retired US Air Force Col. Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a maritime transparency project that monitors and reports activities in the South China Sea, reported that the CCG vessel tailed the PCG ship BRP Gabriela Silang patrolling 50 to 75 nautical miles off Panatag Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc.

“Scarborough Shoal: #Philippines Coast Guard vessel BRP Gabriela Silang patrols 50-75nm NE of the shoal, shadowed by #China Coast Guard 3302, while CCG 3305 guards the shoal entrance. Meanwhile, six Qiong Sansha Yu militia ships arriving shortly from Mischief Reef,” Powell posted on X, referring to Panganiban Reef by its international name.

He added that Chinese vessels returned to the West Philippine Sea after they fled Panatag Shoal last week due to Tropical Storm Enteng.

Six of China’s Qiong Sansha Yu maritime militia ships and one CCG vessel were en route from Panganiban Reef to Panatag Shoal last Sunday.