Philippines Defends Right to Escoda Shoal, Despite CCP Rhetoric

Philippines Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela on Aug. 17 defended Philippine vessels’ right to be in the Escoda Shoal, an atoll belonging to the Spratly Islands, after the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement accusing the Philippines of action that “infringes on China’s sovereignty.” Tensions between the Philippines and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the South China Sea have recently escalated into skirmishes, despite an agreement the two countries reached on July 24. The CCP has long claimed all of the South China Sea and routinely makes its military presence known in the area, often ignoring agreements it has signed....