While China’s encroaching patrols inside the exclusive economic zones ( EEZ ) of , South China Sea , (SCS) claimants have become common, the recent track of its biggest coast guard ship has drawn the interest of analysts.
The China Coast Guard’s (CCG) consequently- called dragon ship followed a maritime route equivalent to , China ‘s , 10- dash- line, an update to its previous nine- jump- line claim to nearly the entire SCS.
China , is presently doubling down on its false claim in the SCS after adding a 10th jump covering the eastern part of , Taiwan , in 2023.
The subsequently- nine run range, which encroaches upon the EEZs of , Brunei,  , Malaysia,  , Taiwan , and , Vietnam, and even , Taiwan, has already been essentially invalidated by a 2016 worldwide tribunal ruling.
It was  , the Philippines , that challenged this sweeping claim in 2013, or a year after a tense standoff with , China , over Panatag ( Scarborough ) Shoal, an area inside , the Philippines ‘ , EEZ but which , China , now has effective control of.
As a result,  , the Philippines , is bearing the brunt of what experts deem as , China ‘s , “expansionist ambitions”, portion of which is its extreme force to command the western section of Spanish EEZ that has led to clashes at sea between , the Philippines , and , China.
‘ Monster boat’s ‘ track
Last , June 17, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that CCG’s biggest vessel, dubbed monster ship because it was the biggest coast guard ship in the world, passed near 12 of , the Philippines ‘ , maritime features in the , West Philippine Sea , ( WPS). Eventually, it was referred to as an innocent passage by Filipino officials.
The CCG send, recently with hull No. 3901, is being called demon because of its length. It is 165 feet long and 22 feet wide — about 65 feet more than an average soccer field — weighing 12, 000 tons.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the , West Philippine Sea, said the CCG ship, with bow No. 6901, traversed WPS from , June 17- 27 , and also encroached into the EEZs of Philippine neighbors , Malaysia , and , Brunei.
The CCG monster ship entered the 12-nautical mile territorial waters of Parola and Pagasa, two Philippine islands, on June 17. Pagasa now hosts a fully functioning Philippine municipality.
It proceeded to enter , Zamora Reef, where it stayed overnight, before eventually continuing its voyage by passing through Bayani and Union Banks, both also inside Philippine EEZ.
The ship entered Kagitingan Reef and “possibly resupplied for logistics” before heading to Luconia Shoal of , Malaysia , and also briefly entered the EEZ of , Brunei.
On , June 23, it again headed north and entered the Philippine EEZ passing through , Rizal Reef , and stopping for supplies at Panganiban Reef.
It continued to sail with impunity inside , the Philippines ‘ , EEZ, passing through Lawak and Patag and turning southeast to Escoda Shoal. Within Philippine territorial waters are all the regions.
Its penultimate sighting was in , El Nido , town in Palawan province as it turned toward Panatag ( Scarborough ) Shoal, which was its final stop before returning to , Hainan Island.
‘ Monster ‘ hounds PH most
WPS monitor , Ray Powell , said he noticed that the monster ship’s patrol targeted , the Philippines.
Read:  , West PH Sea:  , China  ,’monster ‘ ship came much nearer to , El Nido, Palawan — PCG
” It certainly followed the limits of the dash- line claim to the south and east, but not as much to the west”, said Powell, director of SeaLight, a team of volunteers at , Stanford University ‘s , Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation. The group monitors , China , activity in SCS.
” Vietnam , was largely spared this particular intrusive patrol”, Powell, also a retired colonel of the , US Air Force, told , INQUIRER. net.
Additionally, Powell noted that the CCG’s largest ship” took special care” to pass” sensitive” locations inside Philippine waters, such as Ayungin and Panatag Shoal.
The resupply activity of BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine naval outpost grounded in Ayungin Shoal and PCG movements in Scarborough Shoal have been disrupted by , China , and emerged as a flashpoint of tension between , Manila , and , Beijing.
The biggest confrontation between the two countries took place last , June 17, when Chinese CCG personnel blocked Philippine boats carrying supplies to BRP Sierra Madre, boarded the boats and, as the , Philippine Navy , said, looted the Philippine supply vessels.
A clash took place as , Philippine Navy , personnel defended their boats, leading to one naval personnel losing a thumb and injuring others.
Read: A sailor’s thumb was accidentally cut off during the Ayungin mission wants to go back to duty.
” This patrol was more focused on , the Philippines , than other countries like , Malaysia”, Powell said.
CCG ships on’ dash line’ track anew
Another large CCG ship has started conducting patrols in WPS features starting last , June 30.
Read:  , China , ship on’ resupply cruise’ passed near 5 , West PH Sea , features — monitor
Powell said that the 8, 000- ton Sansha 2 Hao first passed by , Pagasa Island , in the morning of that day, accompanied by another CCG vessel, San Sha Zhi Fa 301.
Powell said the two CCG ships also traversed the waters near , Patag Island,  , Lawak Island, Escoda Shoal and Ayungin Shoal.
As of Monday ( July 1 ), the two Chinese ships are within 60 nautical miles of , Malaysia ‘s , coastline” to assert the southern extent of , Beijing ‘s , maritime claims”, according to Powell.
” This mission has two purposes — to deliver supplies to , Beijing ‘s , Spratly Island , bases, and to mark the extent of its maritime claims”, Powell told , INQUIRER. net , in an interview on , July 1.
” It intentionally hits as many important locations within the]10]- dash- line claim as possible”, he said.
Beijing , doubles down
Geopolitical analysts said such actions by , China , indicated that , Beijing , is trying to solidify its “expansionist claims” and that it is now “preparing for any eventuality”.
” This deployment is to continue making a statement for its expansionist claims in the , West Philippine Sea”, said , Don McClain Gill, lecturer at the , De La Salle University ‘s , Department of International Studies.
Gill told , INQUIRER. net , that , Beijing ‘s , lines “do n’t matter”.
” What matters is that its goals in the , West Philippine Sea , are disruptive and against international law”, he said.
Security expert , Chester Cabalza, also told , INQUIRER. net:” The voyage of , China ‘s , monster ship visibly seen on the track of its current imaginary lines in the , South China Sea , gives a semblance to its traditional art of war of gaining ascendancy to justify its state’s expansion and protection of frontiers”.
Cabalza said such actions indicate that , China , is now on the defensive.
” Most likely , China , is encircling the dashes to emboss its preparation for any eventuality — even if , China , has resurged as a regional military power, it still practices Confucian belief in the absence of the glorification of war”, Cabalza said.
Cabalza added:” But in modern Chinese art of war, the transect in the contested waters is to be able to be ready to withstand high winds, choppy waters, and even dangerous storms in the , South China Sea”.
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