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China Ramps Up Activity at Escoda Shoal, US-Backed Philippines Responds Amid War Games

May 13, 2024, 10:15 AM

China has reportedly intensified its activities in the South China Sea by deploying vessels and divers to explore and potentially reclaim the Escoda Shoal, situated just 75 nautical miles from Palawan, within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. This move has raised concerns about the creation of another Chinese artificial island, following patterns observed in previous reclamation projects. The Philippines, backed by the US, has responded by monitoring these activities closely, citing potential environmental damage, including harm to coral reefs, and deploying more than a hundred civilians to face off with dozens of Chinese vessels. The situation has escalated tensions in the region, with the Philippines Coast Guard patrolling areas and asserting that it will not allow Chinese reclamation efforts to proceed unchallenged, amidst risks of increased tensions due to war games.