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The massive China Guard Coast (CCG) ship also known as “The Monster” has left Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) after staying there for more than a month but has been replaced in the area by a smaller CCG vessel, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Thursday.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson on matters relating to the WPS, said the 165-meter-long CCG vessel with bow No. 5901 left Escoda on Aug. 10 and in its place came the 135-meter CCG 5903.
According to Tarriela, the CCG 5903 is registered by the Chinese government with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and is supposed to help the international body “combat illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing.”
“However, since its arrival at Escoda Shoal to replace the CCG 5901, its personnel… did not inspect the Chinese maritime militia (vessels) gathered within the shoal, for compliance with fishery laws,” he said in a statement.
