‘6 Chinese ships return to Panatag Shoal’

MANILA, Philippines — Chinese vessels have returned to the West Philippine Sea after they left Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal last week due to Tropical Storm Enteng, US maritime security expert Ray Powell said yesterday.

Powell, program head of Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, said six of China’s Qiong Sansha Yu maritime militia ships and one China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel were en route yesterday from Panganiban (Mischief) Reef to Panatag Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc.

He reported on Sept. 3 that the six Chinese maritime militia ships fled Panatag Shoal due to Enteng.

The CCG vessel remained at the shoal.

“Six new China Qiong Sansha Yu maritime militia & one China Coast Guard ship are now en route from Mischief Reef to Scarborough Shoal to replace the ships that left in advance of Tropical Storm Yagi (Enteng) last week,” Powell said in a post on X.