The Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua has left Escoda Shoal, a disputed area in the South China Sea, following a five-month deployment, according to a Sunday announcement from the Philippine government. This mission, described as successful by National Maritime Council (NMC) chair Lucas Bersamin, marks the conclusion of an extensive operation.

The purpose of the anchorage of the Philippine Coast Guard ship was to defend the country’s sovereignty over the disputed area and to prevent China from seizing it. During the deployment period, the ship collided with Chinese ships and suffered through poor weather conditions and dwindling supplies.

The vessel’s withdrawal from the Sea came five days after the China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea (BCM) in Beijing held on September 11, 2024. However, the Philippines have stated the withdrawal was not a consequence of a compromise.

In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague held that some of China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea were unlawful. The Court held China’s actions violated the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). However, China adopted a position of non-participation and non-acceptance and asserted the ruling to be “null and void.”

Since 2022, Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr has taken a more assertive stance against China’s claims over the South China Sea. Central to the dispute is the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, an area located within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), referred to as the West Philippine Sea by the Philippines. With the Chinese Coast Guard vessels deploying more aggressive tactics, including the use of water cannons on a Filipino resupply boat in March 2024, tensions between the Philippines and China have escalated.

On March 25, 2024, President Marcos signed Executive Order (EO) No 57 to establish the National Maritime Council (NMC). The NMC aims to strengthen the Philippines’ maritime security and maritime domain awareness amid the maritime conflicts.