China maintained near-constant presence at Luconia Shoals

China Coastguard (CCG) vessels have maintained a near-constant presence in the Malaysia-claimed waters near Luconia Shoals so far this year.

This is according to data obtained from the ship-tracking service MarineTraffic by Malaysiakini, which is based on satellite monitoring of Automatic Identification System (AIS) broadcasts from the vessels.

It shows that a succession of CCG vessels have patrolled the waters near the shoals for weeks or months at a time, which Malaysia has claimed to be part of its exclusive economic zone.

China has maintained it has “historical rights” to large swathes of the South China Sea, including Luconia Shoals, which is not internationally recognised.

According to the MarineTraffic dataset, CCG Vessel 5202 is currently in the area and has been on patrol there since July 7.

CCG Vessel 5203 was present from Dec 23 last year to Jan 13 this year; Jan 16 to Feb 1; Feb 6 to Feb 17 and from April 2 to May 23.

CCG Vessel 5204 was present from Feb 17 to April 2, and from May 22 to July 7.

The dataset also revealed a CCG vessel simply recorded as “China Coastguard”. It was present near Luconia Shoals from Jan 13 to Jan 16.

Based on the dataset, the period between Feb 2 and Feb 5 is the only period this year where CCG did not have a ship present in the Luconia Shoals.

Previously, the National Audit Department said CCG and the People's Liberation Army Navy had encroached Malaysian waters 89 times, between 2016 and 2019, particularly at Beting Patinggi Ali (Luconia Shoals).

It said the Royal Malaysian Navy had responded by chasing away the intruders and demanding that the Foreign Ministry takes action. This resulted in six diplomatic protest notes issued against China.

The report said the China government had repeatedly ignored Malaysia’s protests over the matter, and while the Malaysia Navy is capable of defending those waters, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency should maintain a long-term presence in the area.

Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was earlier reported as saying that Chinese vessels have not been sighted in Malaysian waters in his 100 days in office.

“This is between us and the Chinese leadership... my stand is very clear, we will not compromise our sovereignty,” he was quoted as saying.

However, Hishammuddin later clarified that his statement referred to a specific incident involving a drillship contracted by Petronas, the West Capella.

Reuters reported a stand-off had taken place between West Capella and the Chinese survey vessel Haiyang Dizhi 8, while the US Navy deployed its warships in response to “promote freedom of navigation and overflight”.

Malaysia has denied that a confrontation had taken place, while China said the vessel  Haiyang Dizhi 8 (above) was merely performing “normal activities in waters under China’s jurisdiction”.

Haiyang Dizhi 8 eventually left the area on May 15, after its owner said the ship has completed its survey in an area within Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone. It was reportedly escorted by at least two Chinese vessels.

“I spoke in the context of the reaction to West Capella activities, where a Chinese survey vessel and the accompanying Chinese Coast Guard and fishing militia were present in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from April to May.

“This was managed during my first 100 days in the ministry and those vessels left our EEZ after intensive diplomatic efforts,” Hishammuddin said yesterday of the incident. - Mkini