CCG deploys biggest ship in Scarborough Shoal
CHINA has intensified its presence at Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) with the deployment of its largest coast guard vessel, the 12,000-ton China Coast Guard (CCG) 5901. Retired US Air Force colonel Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a maritime transparency project, said the ship arrived on Jan. 1, joining CCG vessels 3106, 3302, 3305, and at least seven Chinese maritime militia ships, further consolidating China's control over this contested area, located about 120 nautical miles from the Philippines' coast. The CCG 5901, often referred to as "The Monster" due to its size, has been previously noted for its operations in disputed regions of the South China Sea. Its deployment near Bajo de Masinloc underscores China's commitment to asserting its territorial claims in these waters. Bajo de Masinloc, a triangular chain of reefs surrounding a lagoon, is renowned for its rich marine resources and has been a traditional fishing ground for Filipino fishermen. However, since 2012, China has maintained a constant coast guard presence at the shoal, effectively controlling access and limiting fishing activities by other nations. The recent bolstering of Chinese maritime assets in the area has raised concerns in Manila. The Philippines has previously protested China's actions, citing violations of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated most of China's expansive claims in the South China Sea. In response to China's increased presence, the Philippines has sought to strengthen its maritime patrols and has engaged in joint exercises with allies to assert its sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The situation remains a flashpoint for regional tensions, with the potential for further escalation if diplomatic solutions are not pursued. The international community continues to monitor developments in the South China Sea closely, emphasizing the need to adhere to international law and to seek a peaceful resolution of disputes to maintain stability in the region.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
CHINA has intensified its presence at Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) with the deployment of its largest coast guard vessel, the 12,000-ton China Coast Guard (CCG) 5901.
Retired US Air Force colonel Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a maritime transparency project, said the ship arrived on Jan. 1, joining CCG vessels 3106, 3302, 3305, and at least seven Chinese maritime militia ships, further consolidating China's control over this contested area, located about 120 nautical miles from the Philippines' coast.
The CCG 5901, often referred to as "The Monster" due to its size, has been previously noted for its operations in disputed regions of the South China Sea.
Its deployment near Bajo de Masinloc underscores China's commitment to asserting its territorial claims in these waters.
Bajo de Masinloc, a triangular chain of reefs surrounding a lagoon, is renowned for its rich marine resources and has been a traditional fishing ground for Filipino fishermen.
However, since 2012, China has maintained a constant coast guard presence at the shoal, effectively controlling access and limiting fishing activities by other nations.
The recent bolstering of Chinese maritime assets in the area has raised concerns in Manila.
The Philippines has previously protested China's actions, citing violations of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated most of China's expansive claims in the South China Sea.
In response to China's increased presence, the Philippines has sought to strengthen its maritime patrols and has engaged in joint exercises with allies to assert its sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The situation remains a flashpoint for regional tensions, with the potential for further escalation if diplomatic solutions are not pursued.
The international community continues to monitor developments in the South China Sea closely, emphasizing the need to adhere to international law and to seek a peaceful resolution of disputes to maintain stability in the region.
