MANILA, Philippines — China did it again but the Philippines refused to budge.
A day after its Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) water cannoned a medical team from the Philippine Navy treating an injured personnel, the CCG this time attacked a routine food mission being undertaken by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels at the Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) on Friday.
The PCG and BFAR were carrying out the Kadiwa para sa Bagong Mangingisda initiative of the government by delivering fuel subsidies and provisions to Filipino fishing boats as well as securing their safety and right to fish in traditional Philippine fishing grounds when the attack happened at about 6:26 a.m.
“CCG vessel 3107 fired its water cannon at BRP Cape San Agustin (MRRV-4408) from a distance of approximately 400 meters, while the PCG vessel was conducting a maritime patrol approximately 15 nautical miles northeast of BDM. Prior to the incident, MRRV-4408 was being shadowed by no fewer than six CCG vessels, alongside Chinese Maritime Militia vessels operating in the area,” Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea said in a statement.
“At around 7:35 a.m., CCG vessel 21581 began directing water cannon fire at the DA-BFAR vessel BRP Datu Paduhinog (MMOV 3017), which was en route to conduct its regular monitoring and surveillance mission approximately 12 nautical miles northeast of the shoal,” Tarriela said.
The PCG said CCG 21581 “recklessly closed to a distance of approximately seven meters off the port bow of BRP Datu Paduhinog—a maneuver that placed Filipino personnel at serious risk of collision."
The PCG said that the CCG vessel had "deliberately switched off its Automatic Identification System (AIS), concealing its identity in violation of international regulations on safety of navigation.”
The PCG said that at about 7:53 a.m., the Chinese vessel “scored a direct water cannon hit on BRP Datu Paduhinog, followed by two more direct water cannon attacks at around 8 a.m."
The PCG said the result was that the BRP Datu Paduhinog experienced "a temporary loss of its satellite internet connectivity while transiting approximately 10 nautical miles northeast of BDM; connectivity was restored at 8:36 a.m.”
Another CCG vessel, 3303,, fired its water cannon at BRP Datu Cabaylo (MMOV 3001) from approximately 300 meters dead astern at about 8:55 a.m.
Before this, the Chinese Maritime Militia vessel 00318 was monitored pulling a rope approximately 100 meters dead astern of BRP Datu Sumakwel (MMOV 3019), an act that posed a hazard to the vessel's safe navigation, the PCG said.
The PCG said that despite these "illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive (ICAD) actions, all PCG and DA-BFAR personnel were safe, and the vessels sustained their presence in the area in continued support of Filipino fisherfolk exercising their legitimate rights in their traditional fishing ground."
As of 9:30 a.m., the PCG still monitored three PCG and seven DA-BFAR vessels against twelve CCG vessels and three Chinese Maritime Militia vessels in the area of Bajo de Masinloc.
“The PCG strongly condemns the dangerous and unprofessional actions of the China Coast Guard. Bajo de Masinloc is an integral part of the Philippine territory, and its surrounding waters form part of the country's territorial sea and exclusive economic zone,” Tarriela said.
“The 2016 Arbitral Award has affirmed that Bajo de Masinloc is a traditional fishing ground of Filipino fisherfolk, whose rights cannot be lawfully impeded by any foreign power,” he added.
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