South China Sea: is Beijing embarking on ‘grand strategy’ to stop Philippine ships in oil-rich area near Sabina Shoal?

The Philippines has deployed a patrol ship to deter Chinese activities in an area near the Sabina Shoal after it found crushed reefs

China could be militarising an area encompassing the Sabina Shoal and beyond to lay claim to its oil and gas deposits, an analyst says

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Philippine coastguard personnel aboard their ship BRP Cabra monitoring Chinese vessels at Sabina Shoal, a South China Sea outcrop. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:00pm, 13 May 2024Updated: 2:49pm, 14 May 2024

China could be embarking on a “grand strategy” to seal off an oil-rich area in the disputed South China Sea before reclamation and use it as a base to thwart the movements of Philippine vessels after crushed corals were discovered near the Sabina Shoal.

The Philippine coastguard said it deployed a patrol ship to deter China’s activities and inflatable boats to monitor Chinese research vessels in the area near what it called the Escoda Shoal.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, a spokesman of the Philippine coastguard, said on Saturday the activities involving the corals happened about 75 nautical miles (120 kilometres) off the coast of the country’s Palawan island.

He said the situation at the Escoda Shoal was similar to what happened recently in the Sandy Cay of Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea, where coral reefs were severely damaged with debris strewn in the area. West Philippine Sea is Manila’s term for the section of the South China Sea that defines its maritime territory and includes its exclusive economic zone.

“Which among the [claimant] countries in the South China Sea is involved in the wanton destruction of the marine environment? It’s only China. Who else can we blame? Only China,” Tarriela told reporters.

“No matter the reclamation, when it comes to the West Philippine Sea, it’s really alarming. But this is more alarming compared to Sandy Cay because it’s closer to the province of Palawan. As to the strategic relevance of Escoda Shoal, I don’t want to speculate to alarm the public but what I’m saying is, this is very close to Palawan,” he added.