PCG: Another shoal ruined by reclamation

China has dumped crushed corals in Escoda Shoal off Palawan province in another island reclamation activity within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which prompted the deployment of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)’s biggest vessel in the area.

- EMMANUEL TUPAS

Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG’s spokesman for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Transparency Office, revealed yesterday the poor state of Escoda Shoal, also known as Sabina Shoal, which is just 75 nautical miles off Palawan.

Sharing presentation slides and videos of their survey of the shoal last April 18, Tarriela showed at a news forum the destruction of marine resources resulting from China’s reclamation activity.

Tarriela said China is solely to blame for the incident, noting that there were at least 34 Chinese maritime militia vessels around Escoda Shoal. The figure does not include four ships from the China Coast Guard (CCG) and three Chinese research vessels that were also in the area.

The official sounded the alarm on the risk to the country’s security due to its proximity to Palawan.