PH NAVY RULES OUT ESCODA AS ‘NEW FLASHPOINT’ IN WPS

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Despite the latest collision between Philippine and Chinese vessels, the Philippine Navy on Tuesday (20 August 2924) expressed belief that the Escoda or Sabina Shoal is not a “new flashpoint” in the West Philippine Sea.

“Sabina or Escoda Shoal is not a new flashpoint,” Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a press conference.

However, he  maintained that the illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), Coast Guard (CCG), and maritime militia vessels are the “cause of all the dynamics in the WPS.”

“The presence of the CCG, the maritime militia, and the PLAN is illegal. Their actions are coercive and aggressive. Their messages are deceptive. These are the cause of all the dynamics in the WPS,” Trinidad said.

He noted that the collisions between the Philippine Coast Guard and CCG ships near Escoda Shoal on Monday were the first in recent memory.

“All of the actions of the PLAN, the CCG, and the maritime militia will be below the threshold of conflict. It will not reach the point that they will initiate escalation to the point of conflict,” Trinidad said.

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