Philippine Coast Guard Faces China Protest

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has reaffirmed its sovereign rights over Escoda Shoal following a diplomatic protest from China, which claims the area as part of its territory and accused the PCG of illegal anchoring. The PCG's vessel, BRP Teresa Magbanua, was deployed to monitor environmental issues and illegal poaching activities within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Commodore Jay Tarriela emphasized that the Philippines does not require permission from other nations to operate within its EEZ, citing international law and a 2016 arbitral ruling. In contrast, China insists that the presence of the PCG vessel infringes on its sovereignty and threatens regional stability, vowing to take decisive actions against it. Meanwhile, the Philippine government has also lodged its own protests regarding Chinese maritime activities in the region, amid heightened tensions between the two nations.