2 PH ships damaged, 4 crewmen injured: China fires water cannons anew

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TWO Philippine vessels were damaged and four Navy men were injured yesterday as China harassed anew a rotation and reprovisioning mission at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.

China’s actions put “into question the sincerity of its calls for peaceful dialogue and lessening of tensions,” the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said in a statement.

The Department of Foreign Affairs summoned China’s deputy chief of mission to Manila to protest the “aggressive actions” by China’s vessels.

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“China’s interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its own exclusive economic zone is unacceptable,” it said.

The US and several other nations expressed concern and condemned China’s “dangerous maneuvers.”

“The United States stands with the Philippines and proponents of international law in support of a free and open Indo Pacific,” Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said on social media platform X.

European Union Ambassador Luc Veron said the regional bloc is “troubled by today’s pattern of dangerous maneuvers and blocking from Chinese Coast Guard vessels and maritime militia targeting Philippine vessels engaged in crucial resupply missions.”

“The EU reiterates the call for all parties to abide by the legally binding 2016 Arbitration Award and international law to peacefully resolve disputes, guaranteeing safety in maritime waters,” he added.

Joining the condemnation were Australia, Germany, Finland, and the Netherlands. among others.

China laid the blame on the Philippine ships which it said had illegally intruded into waters adjacent to the Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) which it calls Renai Reef, so it had to take control measures.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, which includes the Second Thomas Shoal, and has deployed vessels to patrol the disputed atoll which lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“The on-site operation was professional and restrained, reasonable and lawful,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular news conference.

“China once again urges the Philippine side to stop maritime violations and provocations and refrain from taking any actions that may complicate the maritime situation,” Mao said.

Tuesday’s incident was the latest in a series of maritime run-ins between the Philippines and China, which have been locked in a territorial dispute in the South China Sea despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration which found that China’s claims had no legal basis. Beijing rejects that ruling.

‘BLOCKING MANEUVERS’

 The NTF-WPS said a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel, with bow number 21555, made “dangerous blocking maneuvers” at 6:32 a.m. against Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Sindangan (MRRV 4407) which escorted the mission along with another PCG vessel, BRP Cabra (MRRV 4409).

This led to a “minor collision, resulting in superficial structural damage to the hull of the PCG vessel,” the NTF-WPS said.

At 8:15 a.m., a CCG vessel caused “minor collision” with supply boat Unaizah Mae 4 (UM4) due to the former’s “dangerous blocking maneuvers.”

The task force did not say if the collision was also caused by CCG 21555 but it said CCG 21555 and CCG 21551 “deployed water cannons simultaneously against the supply boat UM4.”

“The use of water cannons by the CCG vessels shattered the windshield of UM4, causing minor injuries to at least four personnel on board,” the task force said.

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The injured personnel were transferred to one of the escorting PCG vessels for treatment.

A source said AFP Western Command commander Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos was on board UM4 at that time, but was not among the four injured.

“Due to the damage and injuries to the vessel and crew, UM4 proceeded back to mainland Palawan under escort of MRRV 4407,” said the NTF-WPS said.

The other supply boat, Unaizah Mae 1, reached Ayungin Shoal at 9:30 a.m. and successfully delivered supplies to troops billeted at the grounded Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre. The boat left the shoal at 10:54 a.m. after concluding the mission.

China has harassed resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal in the past months. The last one before yesterday was on December 10, with Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr aboard one of the supply boats subjected to dangerous maneuver, water cannoning and ramming by a CCG vessel. The boat was damaged but managed to reach Ayungin Shoal.

On February 2, the military conducted a similar resupply mission at the shoal without Chinese interference.

 SINCERITY

“Once again, China’s latest unprovoked acts of coercion and dangerous maneuvers against a legitimate and routine Philippine rotation and resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal, have put the lives of our people at risk and caused actual injury to Filipinos on board UM4,” the NTF-WPS said.

It said the “systematic and consistent manner” by which China carried out the “illegal and irresponsible actions” put to question China’s sincerity in calling for peaceful dialogue and lessening of tensions.

It said the Philippine government will continue to “act peacefully and responsibly, consistent with international law, particularly UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the legally binding 2016 Arbitral Award.”

UNCLOS provides coastal states like the Philippines a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Ayungin is about 108 nautical miles from Rizal, Palawan.

The 2016 Arbitral Award or the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling invalidated China’s excessive claim in the WPS. The ruling also recognized the right of Philippines to its EEZ.

The NTF-WPS said government will not be deterred in exercising its legal rights over its maritime zones, including Ayungin Shoal.

“We demand that China demonstrate that it is a responsible and trustworthy member of the international community,” it added.

‘RECKLESS ACTIONS’

PCG spokesman for the WPS spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said BRP Sindangan and BRP Cabra, which were ordered deployed by PCG commandant Ronnie Gil Gavan “to support” the rotation and reprovisioning operation, “faced dangerous maneuvers and blocking” from Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels.

“Their reckless and illegal actions led to a collision between MRRV-4407 and China Coast Guard 21555 that resulted to minor structural damage to the PCG vessel,” said Tarriela.

Navy spokesman for the WPS Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said two Navy ships, BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz, supported the mission, and were stationed 10 nautical miles from the shoal during the mission.

Trinidad said four Chinese Coast Guard vessels and 11 Chinese maritime vessels were monitored at the vicinity of the shoal during the resupply mission. There was no Chinese Navy ship seen in the area, he added.

Trinidad said the military will continue resupplying its troops at Ayungin Shoal and at eight other features occupied by Filipino troops in the West Philippine Sea.

In view of the latest Chinese harassment, Trinidad said, “I would consider China a clear and present challenge to the Philippine Navy in the West Philippine Sea.”

“The situation is not normal, is not any more normal but we are up to the challenge,” he added.

RESTRAINT

Australian Ambassador Hae Kyung Yu said Australia “shares Philippines’ concerns about dangerous actions by China’s vessels at Second Thomas Shoal today. We call for restraint and respect for international law, particularly UNCLOS.”

German Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke said Berlin is also “concerned” over the latest incident, and reiterated calls for respect for international law and the 2016 arbitral ruling.

“Germany calls on all parties to resolve disputes peacefully based on UNCLOS and reiterates the call to respect the legally binding 2016 Arbitral Award,” the German envoy said.

Finland’s Ambassador Juha Pyykko said, “Again today, for Finland, I reiterate the call for respect for international law and align myself with the statement of the EU Ambassador,” the Finish envoy added.

The Netherlands Ambassador Marielle Geraedts also expressed concern as she underlined respect for and adherence to international law and the arbitral award.

“Concerned about the incidents of today in which Philippine vessels were blocked and harassed. We reiterate the importance of abiding by international law, in particular UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral award,” she said.

As of February 28, Manila has lodged nine diplomatic protests against China, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Teresita Daza said over Beijing’s aggressive and harassment activities in the WPS.

Daza said the total number of diplomatic protests under the Marcos administration from July 2022 to February 28 of this year is 142.

 BALIKATAN

The Armed Forces said Batanes will among areas where Filipino and American troops will conduct war games under the “Balikatan” exercise, a move expected to further anger China.

Balikatan executive agent Col. Michael Logico said the conduct of the annual exercise in Batanes has nothing to do with Taiwan Strait conflict between China and Taiwan.

Batanes, about 125 miles from Taiwan, is a potential flashpoint in the geopolitical between China and United States. The US has opposed China’s possible invasion of Taiwan.

Last month, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr ordered the military to develop more military facilities and increase military presence in Batanes in an effort to enhance the country’s territorial defense capabilities.

Teodoro’s statement prompted China to warn Philippines, saying the Taiwan issue “is at the very core of China’s core interests, and is the first red line that must not be crossed.”

The Department of National Defense countered China’s statement, saying Batanes is a Philippine territory and “China has no business warning the Philippines about what it does within its territory.”

“We are not focused on Taiwan because the exercise is not happening in Taiwan,” Logico told a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo when asked is the holding of Balikatan exercise in Batanes has something to do with the Taiwan issue.

“The exercise is happening within our territorial waters and our territories. So it is natural for us to exercise in those areas,” said Logico, noting that Batanes is part of the Philippine territory and the Philippine flag is waved there.

Logico said they will also be conducting military exercises in the West Philippine Sea, specifically off Palawan, and “integrated air missile defense exercises in Central Luzon.”

“It can be anywhere west of the shores of Palawan,” he added.

Asked how he expects China to react on the conduct of Balikatan training activities in the WPS, Logico said, “I don’t expect anything at all.”

Logico said the exercise will officially open on April 22 and will conclude on May 8.

He said Australia will again participate in the Balikatan exercise. He said France will join for the first time.

“We are also going to be expecting the involvement of the Australian Defense Force and also the French Navy,” he said.

He said they have sent invitation to Japan, which has participated in past Balikatan exercises. However, he said he is not aware if Japan has accepted the invitation.

Last year’s Balikatan exercise involved 17,600 troops from the Philippines and US side – the largest number of participants since the inception of Balikatan in the 1990s.

The Balikatan last year was highlighted by the sinking of a decommissioned Philippine Navy ship, BRP Pangasinan, in Zambales during live fire training involving air, ground and air assets from both two armed forces.

Logico said there will also be a sinking exercise this year. “Actually we call it the maritime strike exercise. So it will be still be involving the same concept of sinking a vessel as our target.”

Logico said the two sides will sink another decommissioned Navy ship, BRP Caliraya.

The vessel had been designated as a target of similar sinking exercise during a Philippine-US military exercise, called Marine Aviation Support Activity 23 in Zambales in July last year. The sinking exercise did not push due to bad weather.

FRENCH SPIDERMAN

A free climber known as the “French Spiderman” was arrested yesterday after scaling the 47-storey GT Tower in Makati City to support the Philippines’ maritime claims in the disputed South China Sea.

Frenchman Alain Robert, who has scaled more than 150 structures worldwide, including Dubai’s Burj Kalifa and France’s Eiffel Tower, drew a crowd and disrupted traffic in the Philippine capital’s financial district as he climbed the building without a harness.

Robert said he climbed to raise awareness on the maritime dispute between the Philippines and China.

“I know that there is tension, you know, with the Philippine Sea, and then just to remind people that the sea and the islands belongs to the Philippines and no one else, so that’s the purpose of my ascent today,” Robert said, without explaining why he was drawn to the cause.

Robert climbed the same skyscraper in 2019. He was also arrested and fined P1,000 ($18) for his stunt. — With Ashzel Hachero and Reuters

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