Chinese Militia Vessel Leaves Pag-asa Island After Grounding; Investigation Underway

Chinese Vessel Grounds Near Pag-Asa Island, Then Departs; Philippines to Investigate Damage A Chinese militia vessel that ran aground on reefs near Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea has since departed. The incident occurred amidst bad weather, raising concerns about potential damage to marine resources in the area. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is currently assessing the extent of the damage. Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, stated, "We tried calling them over the radio to ask for the reason why they are seemingly stuck dito sa Reef 1, and unfortunately they were not responding to our radio calls." He also noted that the PCG monitored the situation and contacted the China Coast Guard, but the Chinese maritime militia did not approach the area. The incident has prompted the Philippines to file over 150 diplomatic protests against China. Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio commented that the Philippines should challenge China to submit the territorial dispute to arbitration, in line with the UN Charter's provision for peaceful dispute resolution. The PCG's investigation into the environmental impact of the grounding is ongoing. The situation underscores the continued tensions in the South China Sea and the need for peaceful resolution of territorial disputes.