MANILA, Philippines — At least two cases of Chinese harassment at sea have been reported by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) – one involving disruption of a scientific research activity in the vicinity of Escoda Shoal, and the other an attempt to block the medical evacuation of a sick soldier from the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
At a press briefing yesterday, PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela said Chinese vessels disrupted the acoustic survey activities of scientists from the University of the Philippines’ Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) and Institute of Biology (UP-IB) in the vicinity of Escoda (Sabina) Shoal from June 3 to 6.
The scientists were assessing the extent of the damage to marine environment caused by global warming and by Chinese illegal and destructive activities in the West Philippine Sea.
The team, led by Dr. Fernando Siringan from the UP-MSI and Dr. Jonathan Anticamara from the UP-IB, said at the PCG conference that researchers discovered “more broken corals over time… that could be built into mounds.”
Tarriela revealed Chinese naval forces performed “amphibious drills” near Escoda Shoal while the research was ongoing.
The People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN), during the scientific activity, “deployed one hovercraft with bow no. 3330 and broadcasted their intention to conduct amphibious drills in the area,” according to the PCG.
A CCG vessel with bow number 3303 repeatedly performed “dangerous maneuvers” and “blew horns” as the research team tried to sail toward BRP Teresa Magbanua, the PCG’s first 97-meter multi-role response vessel.
PLAN assets were seen 15 to 20 nautical miles from the location of the UP research team, said Tarriela.
He said it was “about time” for the Philippine government to support research activities in the West Philippine Sea to “document and manage (marine) resources and for us to understand the impact of climate change in corals.”
“We need marine scientists to help us understand our marine strategies and counter illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.
“If China continues to prevent our research work, the damage and the decline and the slow recovery of corals can be due to China,” Anticamara said.
Last May 19, a Philippine Navy speedboat carrying a sick soldier from the BRP Sierra Madre had to make evasive maneuver as Chinese vessels apparently were attempting to stop the medical evacuation.
The PCG said Chinese forces onboard vessels and small boats tried to stop the PCG’s and the PN’s “attempt to bring the PCG HSRB (high-speed response boat) alongside the PN RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) at the rendezvous point,” according to a statement by Tarriela.
He said PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan himself “decisively deployed the (HSRB) from Buliluyan Port to rendezvous with the (PN’s RHIB) carrying sick personnel for immediate medical evacuation.”
Tarriela said the Chinese action was “barbaric and inhumane” and that they carried it out despite being informed “via radio and public address system about the humanitarian nature of our mission for medical evacuation.”
The medevac was completed after around five hours of Chinese’ blocking maneuver, the PCG said.
Earlier on “Storycon,” Gavan said President Marcos had given his command and other agencies specific orders to do everything to protect Filipino fishermen from possible arrest by the Chinese.
“The President has ordered us to talk to our partners and allies about what they can do to protect our countrymen,” Gavan added.
“First of all, we will not allow our fishermen to be caught. As for the specific actions to be taken, for now, it would be better not to make it public. What we can say is that there is an order for all of us who operate in our oceans to do everything to prevent our fishermen from being caught,” Gavan added.
Beijing said it is set to enforce a new “regulation” by June 15, allowing its coast guard to detain for 60 days without trial any foreign “trespassers” in waters it considers its territory.
China considers almost the entire South China Sea its territory, but the claim has been invalidated by an arbitral court ruling inn 2016.
Meanwhile, it’s the Philippine Navy’s turn to shadow and challenge Chinese warships passing through the country’s territorial waters in Mindanao.
Alerted of the presence of PLAN vessels in the Basilan Strait within the Zamboanga peninsula on Thursday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) quickly deployed one of its own to check.
The BRP Domingo Deluana shadowed the Chinese warships and issued radio challenges demanding a response and explanation from the foreign vessels.
It turned out the Chinese Navy ships were just passing through or exercising their right to innocent passage, the AFP said, assuaging public concern.
AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the Naval Forces Western Mindanao sighted and monitored the movement of the PLAN warships.
The Chinese vessels include a training ship with bow number 83 and an amphibious transport dock with bow number 999.
“Our escorting vessel also issued a standard challenge to the Chinese warships. One of the vessels, Qi Jiquang, responded that it was conducting normal navigation from its last port of call in Dili, Timor Leste en route to Dalian, China,” he said.
“There was nothing to worry, it was transiting on an international sea lane just like other foreign vessels passing the area,” Maj. Orlando Ayllon Jr., Westmincom public information officer, said. — Roel Pareño, Cecille Suerte Felipe