US, EU condemn latest dangerous maneuvers
TWO Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels were damaged after being subjected to “unlawful and aggressive maneuvers” by Chinese ships early morning yesterday in the contested West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said.
China’s Coast Guard said a Philippine vessel ignored its repeated warnings and “deliberately collided” with a Chinese vessel in an “unprofessional and dangerous” manner in the disputed waterway.
The incident occurred at the vicinity of Escoda Shoal, also known as Sabina Shoal, where the PCG vessels were passing, en route to resupply troops stationed at two Philippine-occupied islands.
One of the PCG vessels, BRP Cape Engaño (MRRV-4411), was subjected to the aggressive maneuver by Chinese Coast Guard vessel 3104 at 3:24 a.m., 23.01 nautical miles southeast of Escoda Shoal, the NTF-WPS said.
“This resulted in a collision with the starboard beam of the vessel, creating a hole on the deck with an approximate diameter of five inches,” said NTF-WPS in a statement.
This was later clarified by Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, who said the vessel sustained two holes — one of them 1.10 meters in diameter while the other, 40 centimeters.
At 3:40 a.m., the second PCG vessel, BRP Bacagay (MRRV 4410), was rammed twice by Chinese Coast Guard vessel 21551 about 21.3 nautical miles southeast of the shoal.
The NTF-WPS said this lead to “minor structural damage” on the PCG vessel.
Tarriela said the impact left a hole, measuring 2.5 feet long and 3 feet wide, on the vessel’s auxiliary room.
He said the ramming also caused damaged to the vessel’s 13 stanchion posts and a dent measuring 1 foot.
Tarriela said the two vessels were on the way to a “routine resupply operation” at Philippine-held islands at that time — with BRP Cape Engaño en route to Lawak Island and BRP Bacagay en route to Patag Island.
Tarriela surmised the Chinese vessels harassed BRP Cape Engaño and BRP Bagacay because they thought the PCG vessels were out to strengthen the PCG presence at Escoda Shoal.
China has lodged a diplomatic protest over the prolonged deployment of the PCG’s BRP Teresa Magbanua at the shoal. The vessel was sent to the shoal last April following discovery of China’s small-scale land reclamation in the area.
“They thought that these are going directly to Escoda Shoal, that’s why Chinese Coast Guard vessels, together with the Chinese maritime militia, did a lot of dangerous maneuvers,” said Tarriela.
Tarriela said the Chinese vessels stopped shadowing the PCG vessels as they moved away, towards their destination.
“For the information of everyone, these 44-meter vessels are just going to carry out routine resupply operation for our… troops deployed in Lawak Island and in Patag (Island),” said Tarriela.
The NTF-WPS said the two PCG vessels proceeded with their mission of delivering supplies to personnel at the two islands after the incident.
“The PCG stands firm in its responsibility to ensure the safety and security of our maritime domain while addressing any threats to our national interests,” it said.
The task force appealed for “restraint and adherence” to international laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), “to prevent further escalations and ensure the safety of all vessels operating in the region.”
TWISTING FACTS
National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya, who is also the spokesman of the NSC and the NTF-WPS, said the task force was “disappointed” by the development.
Malaya belied a statement issued by the Chinese Coast Guard that portrayed the PCG vessels as the “provocative party.”
“In fact, in their version of events this morning, it was BRP Bacagay that allegedly rammed (Chinese Coast Guard vessel) 21551,” he said In a forum,
“It was the other way around, 21551, in truth, rammed our vessel BRP Bagacay two times and the physical evidence proves this,” said Malaya, referring to pictures from the PCG.
Malaya condemned the deliberate attempt by China to twist the facts, adding this was not the first time that China tried to “impose its own version of the facts.”
Malaya said trip of the two PCG vessels had nothing to do with Escoda Shoal, or with BRP Teresa Magbanua that is deployed at the shoal.
“The way that they are framing this narrative is that the PCG vessels were intended to resupply BRP Teresa Magbanua… In truth, the incident happened many nautical miles away, 20 nautical miles away from Sabina Shoal or Escoda Shoal,” he said.
“And the purpose of the PCG vessels was to resupply our troops in Lawak Island (and Patag Island). So there is no connection whatsoever to BRP Teresa Magbanua,” he added.
‘FORCEFUL MEASURES’
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, at a regular news briefing, told reporters that China would continue to take lawful “resolute and forceful measures” to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
“We hope that the Philippines can keep its commitments (and) earnestly abide by the temporary arrangements reached with China,” Mao said.
The Chinese Coast Guard posted a short video of the incident which showed what it said was a Philippine coast guard ship “deliberately ramming” with what it said was one of their vessels.
China’s maritime security said the same Philippine vessel involved in the collision then entered waters near Second Thomas Shoal after being prevented from entering Sabina Shoal waters.
China’s Coast Guard said it took control measures against the Philippine ships in accordance with the law and warned the Philippines to “immediately stop infringement and provocation.”
CONDEMNATION
The United States and the European Union condemned the dangerous maneuvers of Chinese coast guard vessels.
US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson and EU Ambassador Luc Veron also called on China to observe international laws, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“The United States stands with the Philippines in condemning the China Coast Guard’s dangerous maneuvers near Sabina Shoal that endangered lives and caused damage to two Philippine Coast Guard vessels. We are committed to supporting the rights of our friends, partners and allies under international law,” Carlson said.
Veron, ambassador of the 26-member regional bloc, echoed the statement of his US counterpart.
“We are concerned about today’s serious maritime incidents between the Chinese Coast Guard and the Philippine Coast Guard that have resulted in damage to two Philippine Coast Guard vessels. International law, including UNCLOS, should be observed in all activities at sea,” Veron added.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue a statement on the latest incident in the West Philippine Sea.
ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES
Malaya justified the presence of BRP Teresa Magbanua at the shoal, noting that the feature is well within the country’s 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone.
He said BRP Teresa Magbanua is also in the area to address concerns of possible land reclamation activities, and illegal fishing, among others.
During the “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” public briefing, Malaya said: “We are bewildered, we are surprised, we are worried about what’s happening.”
The incident occurred after Chinese multi-role fighters conducted dangerous maneuvers and launched flares on the path of a Philippine Air Force plane conducting routine patrol at Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, last August 8. China gained control of the shoal in 2012 after a standoff with Philippine government vessels.
“We had an incident over Bajo de Masinloc a week ago and we had this blocking incident, resulting in the damage of Philippine Coast Guard vessels,” said Malaya.
Malaya stressed the mission of BRP Cape Engaño and BRP Bagacay is not related to Escoda Shoal or BRP Teresa Magbanua.
“My impression would be China thought these two vessels resupply (BRP) Teresa Magbanua, it’s not. They are going to other areas in the West Philippine Sea,” said Malaya, stressing the vessels were out to bring supplies to Lawak and Patag islands.
“They (PCG vessels) just passed 20 nautical miles from Escoda. I would presume the Chinese Coast Guard thought they (PCG vessels) were going to (Escoda Shoal), that’s why they blocked the resupply (mission),” he said.
Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said denounced China’s “unlawful and dangerous maneuvers.”
Trinidad said China’s actions violated international maritime laws, particularly the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and UNCLOS.
Armed Forces spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the AFP and the PCG are “closely coordinating to enhance our maritime patrols and strengthen our presence in the West Philippine Sea.”
Padilla said the military is also working regional partners and allies “to ensure that all actions are in line with international law and to promote stability in the region.”
Padilla assured troops at the Patag and Lawak islands that the government is “fully committed to supporting them.”
SINCERITY
Senate majority leader Francis Tolentino said there is a need “to critically assess” China’s participation in the bilateral consultative mechanism (BCM) with the Philippines.
“The ramming incident earlier this morning (Monday) involving the China Coast Guard…underscores the need to critically assess China’s sincerity and good faith in its participation in the bilateral consultative mechanism with the Philippines. Such acts of aggression are unacceptable and call for an immediate cessation of hostile actions,” Tolentino said in a statement.
“It is imperative that China respect the Philippines’ sovereign rights and adhere to international law,” he added.
The BCM between China and Philippines was established in May 2017 in a bid to discuss issues of mutual concern in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea.
Last July 2, the two countries convened the ninth meeting of their BCM which was held in Manila where Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong led the respective delegations and had a “frank and constructive discussions” on the situation at the WPS.
The ninth meeting was held after the Chinese Coast Guard had a skirmish with Philippine coast guard and navy near Ayungin Shoal on June 17.
“Noting recent incidents in the South China Sea, both sides recognized that there is a need to restore trust, rebuild confidence, and create conditions conducive to productive dialogue and interaction,” the DFA said in a statement.
Sen. Grace Poe said the China’s coast guard’s actions endangered the lives of the PCG crew members and “this also undermines the freedom of sea routes guaranteed under international laws.”
“We deplore this latest irresponsible maneuvers by China in our territory… We will continue to stand behind our Coast Guard in protesting and exposing these unlawful activities to send a message that such bullying will always be met with pushback. At the same time, we urge concerned agencies to intensify our maritime security cooperation with our allies and neighbors that similarly believe that the international law is on our side,” Poe said. — With Ashzel Hachero, Raymond Africa, and Reuters
