Chinese vessels ram Philippines ship near Escoda

MANILA, Philippines — China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels yesterday rammed and fired water cannons at the BRP Datu Sanday near Escoda Shoal.

Datu Sanday, a ship operated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), was on its way to Escoda Shoal for a humanitarian mission to resupply Filipino fishermen with diesel, food and medical supplies.

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said Datu Sanday encountered aggressive and dangerous maneuvers from seven Chinese maritime vessels between Hasa-Hasa and Escoda Shoals.

The People’s Liberation Army Navy ship 626 and multiple CCG ships targeted Datu Sanday in an attempt to encircle and block the humanitarian mission.

Datu Sanday’s engine failed after CCG vessels made close perilous maneuvers, including ramming, horn blasts and deployment of water cannons, the NTF-WPS said.

The incident forced an early termination of the humanitarian mission.

“These unprofessional, aggressive and illegal actions posed serious risks to the safety of the Filipino crew and the fishermen they were meant to serve. Despite these provocative maneuvers, the crew aboard the BFAR vessel maintains high morale and remains safe and unharmed,” the NTF-WPS said.

“Claims suggesting that our personnel fell overboard and were subsequently rescued by the Chinese Coast Guard are completely unfounded. This fake news and misinformation serves as a clear illustration of the PRC (People’s Republic of China)’s willingness to distort the truth and engage in disinformation to bolster its public image,” it added.

Journalists were aboard Datu Sanday when Chinese ship 21551 rammed and water cannoned the BFAR vessel. Another CCG vessel deployed its water cannon against Datu Sanday.

Five CCG vessels had been surrounding the BFAR ship since 10 a.m. yesterday.

Hasa-Hasa (Half Moon) Shoal is located approximately 60 nautical miles from Rizal, Palawan, while Escoda (Sabina) Shoal is about 110 nm away, both well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

“The Philippine government calls on the People’s Republic of China to halt these provocative actions that destabilize regional peace and security,” the NTF-WPS said.

“The Philippines remains steadfast in asserting its rights in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” it added.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it would maintain its deployment of forces to the WPS.

AFP deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan said the Philippines continues to assert its rights in the face of Beijing’s continued belligerence.

The Philippines lodged a diplomatic protest against China over its air force’s dangerous maneuvers and firing of flares while a Philippine Air Force aircraft was conducting a routine maritime patrol over Panatag Shoal on Aug. 8.

On Aug. 22, China again launched flares from its military base on Zamora Reef (Subi Reef) during a BFAR patrol with the Philippine Coast Guard against poachers in the Kalayaan Island Group.

The BFAR aircraft, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, was conducting a routine maritime domain awareness flight when China deployed flares from Zamora Reef, which is within the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island.

The Aug. 22 incident is the third time that China harassed Philippine civilian and military aircraft in 15 days.

‘Control measures’

The CCG justified its actions, saying it took “control measures” after Datu Sanday entered the shoal.

“The Philippine vessel 3002 illegally intruded into the waters near Xianbin Reef in the Nansha Islands without permission from the Chinese government,” state broadcaster CCTV said, using the Chinese names for the Sabina Shoal and the Spratly Islands.

The vessel then “continued to dangerously approach a Chinese coast guard vessel conducting normal operations,” CCTV said, adding that the coast guard had “taken control measures against the Philippine vessel in accordance with the law and regulations.”

Japan, US hit China

Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya urged China on Saturday to uphold a rules-based order and peaceful settlement of disputes based on international law.

“Other dangerous incidents undermining the safety of PH activities. JP opposes any actions that increase tensions and endanger the lives of crews,” Kazuya posted on X.

The United States condemned China’s latest act of using flares to harass twice a Philippine aircraft in the WPS.

“The US stands firmly with the Philippines in condemning the PRC for launching flares at Philippine aircraft operating legally near Scarborough and Subi Reefs (on) Aug. 19 and 22,” US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson posted on X.

“With the Philippines, we call on the PRC to cease provocative and dangerous actions that undermine a free and open Indo-Pacific,” she added.

Philippine flag hoisted

Philippine Ambassador to Beijing Jaime FlorCruz has hailed Filipino company Liwayway, known for its snack brand Oishi, for “waving the Philippine flag” at its factories in China.

“I appreciate your efforts in waving the Philippine flag, not just in China, but overseas,” FlorCruz said during a visit to the Liwayway headquarters in Shanghai.

At present, Liwayway operates 12 factories in China. It was in the 1990s when Liwayway chairman Carlos Chan entered the Chinese market, just as China was opening up. — Mark Ernest Villeza