CHINESE vessels yesterday fired water cannons at a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) at the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc and Panatag Shoal, in the West Philippine Sea, according to the agency.
China, however, said its “control measures” followed the boats’ intrusions in its waters.
Scarborough, about 124 nautical miles from Zambales, is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone but China gained control of the shoal in 2012 after a standoff with Philippine government vessels, and has since prevented Filipinos from fishing in the shoal’s lagoon.
BFAR spokesman Nazario Briguera said the water cannoned BFAR vessel was BRP Datu Cabaylo which, along with another BFAR vessel BRP Datu Sanday, was sent to provide supplies to Filipino fishermen at the shoal.
Briguera said three Chinese vessels and a Chinese Navy vessel shadowed the BFAR vessels at close distance at around 6:30 a.m. The Chinese Coast Guard vessels then fired their water cannons, targeting BRP Datu Cabaylo.
“However, they (water cannons) failed to reach our vessel,” he said.
He said the BFAR vessels proceeded with their mission and were able to resupply seven mother boats and 16 small fishing boats with fuel, food and water.
“BFAR commends our ground personnel for their professionalism and commitment in carrying out their duty despite the risk posed by the Chinese Coast Guard vessels,” said Briguera.
In Beijing, a spokesperson for China’s coast guard, said in a statement two Philippine ships “invaded the waters” near Scarborough Shoal.
“We urge the Philippines to immediately cease its violations,” Liu Dejun also said.
BFAR has experienced similar cases of Chinese harassment in the past, including on September 27 when a Chinese Navy vessel pointed a laser a BFAR aircraft conducting patrol at Hasa-Hasa Shoal. On the same day, two Chinese Coast Guard vessels also shadowed two BFAR vessels (BRP Taradipit and BRP Romapenet) in the same area.
Chinese Coast Guard vessels have used their water cannons on Philippine Coast Guard vessels and civilian boats involved in resupply missions for troops stationed at the Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal.
China claims sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, including areas claimed by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
The latest harassment incident comes as leaders of the ASEAN regional grouping gathered in Laos for a summit at which the Philippines was expected to raise the issue of tension in the South China Sea.
The military expressed “concern” over China’s latest aggressive activity.
But Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, also said the military will continue protecting the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea, including at Scarborough Shoal, through the conduct of patrols.
“We will continue supporting the Coast Guard and BFAR, we will continue performing our mandate of patrolling the West Philippine Sea. We will ensure that the integrity of our territory is intact,” he said.
PROTECTION
The Armed Forces vowed to protect Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea from possible Chinese harassment.
Trinidad made the assurance after 10 Vietnamese fishermen were injured during a September 29 Chinese harassment at the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.
Chinese Coast Guard personnel boarded the fishing boat of the Vietnamese fishermen during the incident, which National Security Eduardo Año earlier described as an “alarming act with no place in international relations.”
“The Philippine Navy, the AFP, is always ready to protect and to ensure that our fisherfolk will conduct their trade of fishing,” Trinidad told a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.
On the possibility of the Chinese doing the same to Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, Trinidad, “We would not like to speculate if this would be done to us or not.”
“But again, we are more than ready. We have the contingency plans in place in case actions like this would be conducted to our fishermen,” said Trinidad.
Trinidad urged Filipino fishermen to continue fishing in the West Philippine Sea.
“The BFAR, the Coast Guard and especially the Armed Forces are ready to ensure your security,” he said.
MORE CHINESE VESSELS
The military said has observed a slight increase in the number of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea.
The Philippine Navy said 190 various Chinese vessels were monitored in the WPS, slightly increasing from 178 vessels monitored in the area during the previous week.
Of the number 190, 28 are People’s Liberation Army-Navy and Chinese Coast Guard vessels were at Ayungin, Escoda and Scarborough Shoals.
“Emphasis is given to these three features as they are very important in protecting our EEZ (exclusive economic zone),” the Navy said in a statement.
“Their continued illegal presence in the West Philippine Sea blatantly disregards the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling, violates our sovereignty and sovereign rights and highlights the need to modernize the defense and security capabilities of the AFP,” it added.
The 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated China’s excessive claim in the South China Sea and upheld Philippine rights to its EEZ.
“We in the AFP remain committed to upholding international law and defending the integrity of our national territory,” the Navy also said.
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the 28 Chinese vessels at Ayungin, Escoda and Scarborough Shoals were composed of 17 Coast Guard vessels and 11 Navy ships.
“Three CCGV (Chinese Coast Guard vessels) and six PLAN (People’s Liberation Army Navy) vessels were monitored from the other features,” said Padilla. — With Reuters
