ELEVEN Chinese vessels were monitored inside and outside the contested Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea yesterday during a routine patrol of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ships.
Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said the Chinese maritime vessels were stationed inside the shoal, “monitoring access routes into the area.”
Two Chinese Coast Guard ships, with bow numbers 3106 and 3104, and seven maritime militia vessels, were positioned outside the shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc. A vessel of the People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel, with bow number 552, was also seen about 50 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales, Tarriela said.
Scarborough Shoal is just some 124 nautical miles from Zambales. China gained control of the shoal in 2012 after a standoff with Philippine government vessels. Since then, the Chinese have prevented Filipinos from fishing in the shoal’s lagoon.
Tarriela said a BFAR patrol aircraft conducted “aerial surveillance of the maritime situation” during the mission.
During the operation, Tarriela said, PCG vessels BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Cabra distributed food packs and groceries to Filipinos who were fishing near the shoal.
He said about 40 Filipino fishing boats “were observed engaged in fishing activities during the patrol.”
“The Philippine Coast Guard and BFAR are committed to upholding the rights of Filipino fishermen and ensuring their safety in the West Philippine Sea, while actively promoting peaceful and secure maritime operations,” he said.
On December 4, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel fired water cannon at BFAR vessel BRP Datu Pagbuaya during a similar routine patrol and resupply mission for Filipino fishermen.
The PCG said the Chinese vessel used a jet stream water cannon, indicating the Chinese were determined to damage the BFAR vessel and its communication equipment.
