The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed the presence of at least 20 unidentified Chinese and Vietnamese vessels at Sabina Shoal during the conduct of Maritime Patrol mission on 16-21 March 2023.
The PCG issued multiple radio challenges when they encountered at least two CCGVs with bow numbers 5304 and 5305 near the shoal yet, the concerned vessels did not respond prompting the PCG to deploy Rigid-hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) to disperse the foreign flagged vessels in the shoal.
In a statement made by the PCG, there were sightings of several foreign- flagged vessels in the Kalayaan Island group including China Coast Guard Vessels and a People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) Type 056A Jiangdao II Class Missile Corvette.
BRP Malapascua had an encounter with PLAN vessel with bow number 649 within Pag-asa’s twelve nautical mile (12 NM) territorial waters and responded with a counter radio challenge to the PCG.
The PCG said that while returning to Buliluyan Port, BRP Malapascua encountered CCGV 5201 near Ayungin Shoal and shadowed BRP Malapascua from about 1,600 yards away and approached to within 1.2 nautical miles of the grounded BRP Sierra Madre.
PCG adviser Commodore Jay Tarriela mentioned that the Chinese vessels may be more cautious now due to increased scrutiny of their activities.