The ship went back after five months of patrolling around Sabina, a shoal within the Philippine exclusive economic zone where China is accused of carrying out illegal reclamation activities.
At the 10th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism meeting on the South China Sea held on September 11 in Beijing, Philippines Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma Theresa Lazaro said her country has jurisdiction over the shoal even as Beijing is demanding that Manila leave the feature.
A Philippines official stated that two of its coast guard vessels were en route to deliver supplies to Lawak and Patag islands at approximately 3:24 am when they were "subjected to aggressive manoeuvers" by a Chinese Coast Guard ship.
Videos released by the Philippine Coast Guard have revealed substantial damage to coral reefs along the Rozul (Iroquios) Reef and Sabina (Escoda) Shoal in the South China Sea.