China ship blasts Philippines vessel with water cannon

MANILA, Philippines — Utilizing water cannons and dangerous blocking maneuvers, China Coast Guard (CCG) and military vessels again harassed Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) early yesterday morning.

The National Security Council (NSC) said the latest attacks happened just 16 nautical miles south of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) were conducting a routine maritime patrol in the vicinity to support Filipino fishermen actively engaged in fishing in the area when the harassment happened, according to NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya.

“During this operation, our vessels encountered aggressive actions from several China Coast Guard vessels, specifically CCG 5303, 3302, 3104, as well as People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels with bow numbers 500 and 571,” Malaya said.

He added that CCG 3302 fired a water cannon at the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, aiming directly at the vessel’s navigational antennas, around 6:30 a.m.

The PCG also reported the presence of a Chinese Navy ship during the incident.

“Following this hostile action, CCG 3302 intentionally sideswiped the BRP Datu Pagbuaya on its starboard side. Shortly thereafter, at 6:55 a.m., CCG 3302 launched a second water cannon attack on the same vessel,” Malaya said.

The NSC official noted that the PCG vessels, including the BRP Teresa Magbanua, also faced blocking, shadowing and dangerous maneuvers from PLAN vessel 500 and CCG 503.

He further reported that the BRP Cabra was likewise subjected to reckless maneuvers by CCG 3104 at a distance of only 300 yards.

Despite the latest acts of harassment from China, Malaya said the PCG and the BFAR “reaffirm their commitment to protecting the rights and safety of our fishermen within our maritime jurisdiction. We will continue to be vigilant in safeguarding our national interests in the West Philippine Sea.”

Crew’s safety

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman for the WPS, condemned China’s latest actions, stressing that the aggressive maneuvers endangered the safety of the Filipino crew.

“The People’s Republic of China has no jurisdiction over Bajo de Masinloc, which is classified as a rock under the 2016 Arbitral Award and Article 121 of the UNCLOS. The Philippines has sovereignty over it, including its territorial sea,” Tarriela said in a post on X, referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

He emphasized that waters beyond the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea of Bajo de Masinloc fall within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, measured from Luzon’s baseline.

“Our vessels are legitimately patrolling Philippine waters, while it is China that is encroaching upon them and militarizing the area by deploying PLA Navy vessels to shadow PCG operations,” Tarriela said.

No reason to stop maritime operations

Following the CCG’s latest harassment on Philippine vessels in the WPS, the BFAR yesterday said there is no reason for the agency to stop its maritime operations in Panatag.

In an interview with The STAR, BFAR spokesman Nasser Briguera also expressed deep concern after the CCG launched water cannon attacks and rammed a vessel of the BFAR while conducting maritime patrol in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc.

“We are deeply concerned about this latest happening, and despite this happening again as it occurred previously, the BFAR will continue to do its mandate and provide support to our fisherfolk despite the harassment of China,” Briguera said.

He added that the BFAR and the PCG have issued a joint statement condemning the latest incident.

“We will not be cowed and will continue to perform the mandate of the agency within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines,” Briguera said.

At the same time, the BFAR official advised fishermen to continue their operations in Panatag Shoal.

“Just as what the National Security Council said, there is no reason for our fishermen to stop fishing, and there is also no reason for BFAR to stop its efforts to support our fishers,” he said.

Briguera also belittled China’s move after it submitted to the United Nations a statement on the baselines of its territorial sea, which included a chart showing the Scarborough Shoal as part of its territorial waters.

“There was already a ruling declaring that the rightful owner of Bajo de Masinloc, which is clearly stated under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Briguera noted. –  Bella Cariaso