By Gabriela Baron
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed on Wednesday, Feb. 22, the presence of 26 Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels in Ayungin and Sabina Shoals in the West Philippine Sea.
This after the PCG conducted a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight using Cessna Caravan 2081 over Ayungin and Sabina Shoals on Tuesday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier filed diplomatic protests against Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) after one of its vessels pointed a military-grade laser to one of PCG’s ships, causing temporary blindness to its crew.
According to PCG’s report, as Cessna Caravan 2081 approached the airspace over Sabina Shoal, it received “inaudible” radio challenges, both in English and Chinese,” from CCG-5304.
The PCG also issued its own radio challenges, stressing that it is conducting MDA flight within airspace over the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and directing the CCG ship to leave the area immediately.
Meanwhile, as PCG Cessna Caravan 2081 approached within 10 nautical miles off Ayungin Shoal, the same CCG ship once again issued a nuclear radio challenge.
Over Ayungin, the PCG aircraft observed that CCG-5304 maintained a constant close distance of not more than one nautical mile from BRP Sierra Madre, while it also saw at least four suspected CMM anchored inside Ayungin Shoal.
Suspected CMM vessels were directed to immediately depart the Philippine EEZ and were warned that they were not authorized to loiter nor swarm these shoals, the PCG reported.
PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu directed an increase in the operational tempo of both Maritime Patrols and MDA flights of PCG assets.
Abu assured the public that “they can rely on the PCG” and the Armed Force of the Philippines.-ag