Emong disrupts China’s intrusive Panatag patrols – report

MANILA, Philippines —  Typhoon Emong (international name Co-may) could have disrupted the “intrusive patrols” of a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel in Panatag or Scarborough Shoal, an American maritime security expert has reported.

“The (CCG) is temporarily abandoning its Scarborough Shoal exclusion zone enforcement & its intrusive patrol off the Philippines’ coastline in the face of Typhoon Co-may,” according to a post on X by former US Air Force official and former defense attaché Ray Powell yesterday.

He noted that CCG vessel 3304 “maintained its intrusive patrol 50 (nautical miles) from Luzon for two days from 21-23 July before Typhoon Co-may forced it to retreat.”

The CCG patrol in Panatag Shoal was apparently being guarded “while the Philippines’ coast guard is busy helping flood victims,” he said.

“We can expect the China Coast Guard & militia ships to return to Scarborough Shoal to resume their exclusion zone enforcement against the Philippines after Typhoon Co-may turns back to the northeast,” he wrote.

On July 23, Powell said CCG 3304 was detected “near Manila Bay just 50 nautical miles from the Luzon coast.”

Philippine Coast Guard spokesman on West Philippine Sea issues Commodore Jay Tarriela has yet to confirm Powell’s observations.

Typhoon Emong is expected to make landfall and leave the Philippines by weekend.

Philippines, China consultations

The Philippines and China discussed the “safety, rights, and welfare” of their respective nationals during a joint consular meeting in Beijing, the Philippine embassy in Beijing said.

The embassy said Wednesday that the two sides held the 9th Joint Consular Consultation in Beijing on July 22.

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for consular affairs Maria Antonina Mendoza-Oblena and Chinese Foreign Ministry Director-General for consular affairs Long Zhou led consultations.

The two sides stressed ongoing cooperation between the two countries in addressing transnational and other crimes, including illegal gambling.

President Marcos announced the banning of Philippine offshore gaming operators in 2024.

Since then, both countries have been cooperating to crack down on illegal gambling operations.

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier protested China’s “inaccurate” travel advice, which warned its students about the surge in crimes targeting Chinese nationals.

Meanwhile, the Philippines urged yesterday Thailand and Cambodia to resolve their border dispute in accordance with international law and extend consideration and care to civilians who may be affected by the conflict.

A Bangkok Post report said Thailand carried out air strikes on Cambodia, hitting two Cambodian military targets on the ground on Thursday, as the countries’ border conflict intensified. –  Pia Lee-Brago