VESSELS of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and Navy yesterday harassed Philippine government ships near two shoals in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.
Two of the ships were rammed and subjected to water cannon attack.
No one was hurt in the latest incidents of Chinese bullying, which occurred just hours apart, but a vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) was damaged, said Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman for the West Philippine Sea.
President Marcos Jr. “expressed concern” over the latest Chinese hostility, according to the National Maritime Council (NMC) which condemned the incidents and asked China to exercise self-restraint and show its commitment to dialogue and consultation.
“The aggressive posture of the Chinese vessels highlights a continuing pattern of aggression, coercion, and intimidation within Philippine waters. These actions against our vessels are clear violations of international law and an affront to the mutual respect that is expected between countries,” said NMC spokesman Alexander Lopez.
The United States condemned the attacks, with US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson saying China’s actions disrupted Philippine maritime operations and put lives at risk.
She added the US stands with likeminded allies in support of a free and open Pacific.
China’s Coast Guard said four Philippine ships had attempted to enter its territorial waters around the Scarborough Shoal, and
Liu Dejun, a coast guard spokesperson, said in a statement, Philippine ships had “dangerously approached” the coast guard’s “normal law enforcement patrol vessels,” prompting them to “exercise control” over their counterparts.
Liu added that one of the Philippine ships “ignored” repeated warnings, with actions that “seriously threatened” the safety of a Chinese coast guard vessel.
“We warn the Philippines to immediately stop infringement, provocation and propaganda, otherwise it will be responsible for all consequences.”
Manila and Beijing have sparred at sea this past year, as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, which has angered neighboring countries that dispute some boundaries they say cut into their exclusive economic zones.
SCARBOROUGH INCIDENT
The first incident occurred near Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, which China calls as Huangyan Island. It is about 124 nautical miles from mainland 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 inside the shoal’s lagoon.
Tarriela said PCG and BFAR vessels were conducting routine maritime patrol to support Filipino fishermen in Scarborough when they were harassed by the Chinese. He said three CCG vessels (with bow numbers 5303, 3302, 3104) and two PLA Navy ships (numbers 500 and 571) were involved in the harassment.
At around 6 a.m., he said, CCG vessel 3104 shadowed the much smaller PCG vessel BRP Cabra about 19 nautical miles away from the shoal. Thirty minutes later, CCG vessel 3302 fired water cannoned the BFAR vessel, BRP Datu Pagbuaya, about 16 nautical miles south of Scarborough Shoal. The CCG vessel targeted the navigational antennas of BRP Pagbuaya, he said.
“Following this hostile action, CCG 3302 intentionally sideswiped the BRP Datu Pagbuaya on its starboard (right) side,” said Tarriela.
At 6:55 a.m., Tarriela said, CCG vessel 3302 launched another water cannon attack on the same BFAR vessel.
The Chinese vessel used a jet stream water cannon. Tarriela said this indicates the Chinese were really determined to damage the BRP vessel and its communication equipment.
“This is actually an overkill … Our BFAR vessel is so small compared to this humongous-sized China Coast Guard vessel. And they (Chinese) have disregarded the collision regulation, intentionally sideswiping a smaller BFAR vessel,” he said/
He said the BFAR vessel, due to the seamanship skills of its crew members, was able to outmaneuver the CCG vessel.
Also at around 6:30 a.m., PCG vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua was also shadowed by CCG vessel 5303 and PLA Navy vessel 500, also about 19 nautical miles from Scarborough.
Tarriela said that while the PLA merely shadowed the BRP Teresa Magbanua, “what is worth noting here is that it (PLA Navy ship) is so close that it (distance) is only 300 yards.”
“This is the first time that a PLA Navy warship has been deployed to shadow a (Philippine) Coast Guard vessel,” he said.
Tarriela said another PLA Navy vessel, with bow number 567, was sighted about 7 nautical miles from the shoal.
ESCODA SHOAL
Tarriela said the PCG received at 5:40 a.m. a radio message from Filipino fishermen who reported they were being harassed and prevented by CCG vessels from going to the Escoda Shoal or Sabina Shoal, about 70 nautical miles from mainland Palawan.
Four government vessels — BFAR vessels BRP Datu Romapenet and BRP Datu Bankaw; and PCG vessels BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Cape Engaño then proceeded to the location of the fishermen
At around 6 a.m., CCG vessels 21558 and 21559 blocked and conducted dangerous maneuvers against BRP Datu Romapenet.
At 9:17 a.m., CCG vessel 21549 also conducted dangerous maneuvers and sideswiped BRP Datu Bankaw. Three minutes later, the same CCG vessel again conducted dangerous maneuver and sideswiped BRP Datu Bankaw.
At 10:45 a.m., Tarriela said, CCG vessel 21549 “intentionally rammed” BRP Datu Romapenet, “significantly” damaging the PCG vessel.
Tarriela said the PCG and BFAR vessels went to Escoda Shoal “to ensure the safety and security of Filipino fishermen.”
“We have all the rights to exploit all the resources there, and yet the Chinese Coast Guard are the ones that are carrying out unlawful and aggressive actions to prevent our public vessels to support the Filipino fishermen,” he said.
He said five CCG vessels and a PLA Navy vessel were involved in the harassment at Escoda Shoal.
Despite the latest harassment incidents, Tarriela reiterated the government is doing everything possible to protect the country’s interest in the West Philippine Sea.”
Last October 8 also in Scarborough Shoal, another BFAR vessel — BRP Datu Cabaylo — was subjected to water cannoning and other forms of harassment during a “routine resupply mission to Filipino fisherfolk.” – With Jocelyn Montemayor and Reuters
On last November 27 and 28, a PLA Navy helicopter harassed Filipino fishermen in the vicinity of Rozul Reef or Iroquois Reef, also in the West Philippine Sea, which is some 138 nautical miles from mainland Palawan.
The helicopter flew above Filipino fishing boats at an altitude of 15 to 18 meters. The PCG said flying above the vessels at that very low altitude was “very dangerous.” Fortunately, no one was reported hurt in the incident.
