CHINA’S Coast Guard yesterday fired water cannon at Philippine ships near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea and accused Manila of “illegal” intrusion and the ramming of one of its vessels.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, confirmed the report carried by Reuters, saying China’s Coast Guard harassed PCG, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Filipino fishing boats near the Shoal.
Yesterday’s encounter involved more than 10 Philippine ships, said Gan Yu, a spokesperson for China’s Coast Guard, accusing the vessels of having “illegally invaded China’s territorial waters of the Scarborough Shoal from different directions.”
The Reuters report said the CCG had taken control measures against several Philippine vessels at the disputed Shoal.
But National Maritime Council spokesperson Alexander Lopez, in a phone message, said: “No truth to it. Another case of Chinese disinformation and propaganda directed or targeting its domestic audience. All lies.”
The confrontation comes a week after China approved plans to turn the shoal into a national nature reserve, a move that defense analysts have warned would test Manila’s response over the 58-sq-mile (150-sq-km) triangular chain of reefs and rocks.
The attack caused injuries to a BFAR staff and “significant damage” to the vessel BRP Datu Gumbay Piang, according to Tarriela
Tarriela said two CCG vessels targeted the BFAR vessel while the latter was engaged in the “Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda” initiative near the shoal.
The government program calls for the distribution of fuel and ice and the purchase of fish catches of Filipino fishermen near the shoal, about 124 nautical miles from mainland Zambales.
Tarriela said one of the CCG vessels, with bow number 5201, directed its water cannon at the starboard (right) side of BRP Datu Gumbay Piang some 14 nautical miles west of Scarborough Shoal at 9:14 a.m.
“This aggressive action lasted for about 29 minutes, resulting in significant damage, including shattered glass from the aft window of the bridge, damage to the captain’s cabin partitions, and a short circuit affecting electrical outlets and five outdoor air conditioning units.
“One personnel from DA-BFAR (Department of Agriculture-BFAR) sustained injuries due to the shattered glass caused by the water cannon,” added Tarriela.
Tarriela said the second CCG vessel, with bow number 21562, also fired water cannon at the portside (left) side of the vessel some 17 nautical miles east of the shoal.
Tarriela also said a Chinese maritime vessel, CMM 00001, “conducted hazardous maneuvers and attempted to use water cannons” against the BFAR vessel about 10.38 nautical miles east of the shoal.
“The Philippine vessel effectively executed safety maneuvers to avert any potential damage,” Tarriela said.
Tarriela said CCG 5201 and CCG 21562 continued to obstruct the BFAR vessel while it was navigating to a “safer position” away from the shoal.
“Utilizing the seamanship skills of its crew, the BRP Datu Gumbay Piang successfully maneuvered away from the CCG vessels and rejoined nine other DA-BFAR vessels in the area, continuing its mission to provide fuel and supplies to Filipino fishermen,” said Tarriela.
Before the incident or at around 8:30 a.m., a Chinese Navy warship, with bow number 525, issued a radio broadcast announcing a live fire exercise in the vicinity, said Tarriela.
“This declaration caused significant panic and fear among Filipino fishermen in the area,” said Tarriela.
Despite the incident, Tarriela said the PCG and BFAR remain committed to upholding “our maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea and protecting the safety and security of the Filipino fishermen.”
Simmering tension over the shoal has led to diplomatic rows in recent years, but no incidents have escalated into armed conflict at the site.
Both sides accuse each other of provocations and trespassing in incidents featuring the use of water cannon, boat-ramming and maneuvers by China’s Coast Guard, which the Philippines regards as dangerously close, as well as jets shadowing Philippine aircraft there.
In particular, Gan faulted Philippine Coast Guard vessel 3014, saying in a statement it had “disregarded solemn warnings from the Chinese side and deliberately rammed a Chinese coast guard vessel.”
He added, “The China coast guard lawfully implemented control measures against the Philippine ships.”
These included measures such as verbal warnings, route restrictions and water cannon spraying, Gan added.
Tarriela said PCG and BFAR vessels went to the shoal to distribute fuel and ice to Filipino fishermen to extend their fishing activities in the area.
He said a government fish carrier, MV Mamalakaya, was also in the area to purchase fish catches from Filipino fishermen operating 35 fishing boats at the shoal.
“However, despite the humanitarian goals of this initiative, reports indicate continued harassment from the China Coast Guard towards Filipino fishermen receiving fuel subsidies,” said Tarriela.
Tarriela said nine Chinese vessels were involved in the “aggressive actions against both fishermen and PCG and BFAR vessels.”
“In light of these challenges, the PCG and BFAR remain committed to prioritizing the safety of Filipino fishermen,” said Tarriela.
The incident came more than a month after the August 11 collision between a Chinese Navy ship and a Chinese Coast Guard ship at the shoal.
The collision occurred while the Chinese ships were chasing and harassing a PCG vessel, BRP Suluan.
The collision caused substantial damage to the Chinese Coast Guard vessel.
A video showed several Chinese Coast Guard personnel on the bow of their vessel before the impact. They were no longer visible afterward.
Analysts have said Beijing’s plan to categorize the shoal as a nature reserve amounted to trying to take the moral high ground in the dispute over the atoll, known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines.
The dispute is part of a contest over sovereignty and fishing access in the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, overlapping the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Unresolved disputes have festered for years over ownership of various islands and features.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China’s sweeping claims in the region were not supported by international law, a decision that Beijing rejected.
AFP: NO WAY
The Armed Forces yesterday said it will not allow China to occupy Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, where Beijing is planning to establish a nature reserve.
“The integrity of the national territory is paramount,” Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy’s spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, told a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.
National Security Adviser and National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea chairman Eduardo Año earlier said the Chinese declaration is a “clear pretext towards eventual occupation” of the shoal.
The Chinese State Council has approved the establishment of the Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal) National Nature Reserve. It said the move is an “important guarantee for maintaining the diversity, stability and sustainability of the natural ecosystem of Huangyan Island.”
Asked if the military shares the assessment of Año, Trinidad said: “What the AFP shares with our national leadership is the heartbeat that we will not give up one square inch.
“Details of that we will not delve into but rest assured that we have the appropriate actions ready to ensure that we can institute the command guidance of the commander-in-chief,” added Trinidad, referring to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Pressed if this also applies to Scarborough Shoal, Trinidad said, “This covers the entire country.
China gained control of the shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, in 2012 after a standoff with Philippine government vessels. The Chinese have since prevented Filipinos from fishing inside the shoal’s lagoon.
Asked what the military will do should China occupy the shoal, Trinidad said: “Again, we will not delve into details, to give an advance declaration of our actions. Rest assured that your Armed Forces know what to do. We are good with what we have.”
Trinidad said China’s pronouncement to establish a nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal “is part of their malign influence to shape public perceptions and again justify their illegal presence.”
“These are pronouncements to justify their illegal presence and eventually their coercive and aggressive actions, which have no basis in international law and are not accepted by the international community,” said Trinidad.
Trinidad stressed that the military “will ensure the integrity of the national territory.”
“There will be no let-up in the conduct of maritime patrols and air surveillance flights if only to ensure that BDM (Bajo de Masinloc) will remain ours,” said Trinidad. – With Reuters
