CHINA on Saturday deployed several maritime militia ships to Escoda (Sabina) Shoal after the Philippines disclosed that it had sent a ship to the disputed atoll located in the West Philippine Sea as a replacement for the BRP Teresa Magbanua. Retired US Air Force Col. Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, said they were able to monitor eight additional Qiong Sansha Yu militia ships being deployed from Panganiban (Mischief) Reef to Escoda Shoal at around noon. This development came as National Maritime Council (NMC) spokesman Undersecretary Alexander Lopez revealed that the PCG ship sent to replace BRP Teresa Magbanua was now moving closer to Escoda Shoal. "We have already sent [a ship to replace Teresa Magbanua]; I just won't say if it's a Coast Guard vessel or if it's a Philippine Navy ship. But the important thing is we have already sent an asset of the Philippine government to replace or cover the Sabina Shoal," Lopez said in a news forum on Saturday. Lopez said he would not disclose the exact location of the vessel as part of its "operation adjustment" in the West Philippine Sea. He said the government had already learned its lesson following the China Coast Guard's continued attacks against Philippine vessels in the area. "It's better for them to guess where the ship is because if they know where it is, they will go there. It's like a magnet. So, that is our approach. We will not reveal where it is, as much as possible," Lopez said. "So, again, as part of operational security, these details are kept [secret] as much as possible. Because otherwise, if you are the enemy, you will know where we are so you can strategize. So, it's better that they don't know," he added. Lopez said they have yet to receive reports that the ship had encountered any harassment from Chinese militia or other hostile forces. "So far, nothing. There has been no report that we have been harassed," Lopez said. "The important thing is [the replacement ship] on its way and doing its mission to conduct maritime patrols... to get information, [and] ... to detect and document whatever illegal activities are [being carried out in the area]," he added. Lopez said part of the ship's mission is to monitor the number of Chinese vessels in the area and pass this information to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for possible filing of a diplomatic protest "because the mere presence of Chinese ships in the shoal is already illegal." BRP Teresa Magbanua returned to its home base in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, on September 15 after being deployed at Escoda Shoal for over five months to monitor China's alleged reclamation activities in the area. The PCG said the pullout from Escoda Shoal was due to humanitarian reasons. China had been calling on the Philippines to remove the BRP Teresa Magbanua from Escoda Shoal as its presence supposedly violated Chinese sovereignty. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has said that it lodged a formal protest over the presence of the Philippine ship in Escoda Shoal. Earlier, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said there was no need for the Philippines and China to enter into an agreement regarding Escoda Shoal "because the only important thing... is to stop any reclamation that is being done [in the area]." He said it was also important that the Philippines could maintain access and presence in Escoda Shoal "since it is a low tide elevation and it is within our exclusive economic zone." "[Escoda Shoal] is not a high tide elevation that cannot be the territory of any country, but it is under our exclusive economic zone. We are the only ones who have the right to exploit all the resources here and, of course, to protect fishermen," said Año. Meanwhile, two Chinese maritime militia ships were also deployed to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal on Saturday, while China Coast Guard 5205 was monitored moving southeast to within 40 nautical miles off Palawan. "What generated this sudden activity is unclear," said Powell.
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