4 Ph crew hurt, vessels damaged by Ch ships
By J.Lo
“There is no such situation of China harassing Philippines,” China foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said “ reason behind recent maritime developments is that Philippines has frequently made provocative moves in South China Sea, infringing on China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests”..
Earlier within hours of each other, two incidents of “blocking maneuver” and water cannon attack by China Coast Guard (CCG) and militia vessels erupted in vicinity of Ayungin Shoal, leaving four Filipinos injured and two Philippine vessels slightly damaged.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman for West Philippine Sea affairs Commodore Jay Tarriela said BRP Sindangan was supporting resupply mission for troops on BRP Sierra Madre at 6:30 in the morning yesterday when CCG ship with bow number 21555 tried to block it, resulting in slight collision.
In post on X, Tarriela said collision was caused by “reckless and illegal action” of CCG vessel.
Two hours later at 8:15 in the morning, same Chinese coast guard ship and another with bow number 21551 blasted Philippine resupply boat Unaizah May 4 with water cannons.
National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said CCG and militia vessels “harassed, blocked, deployed water cannons and executed dangerous maneuvers in another attempt to illegally impede or obstruct routine rotation and resupply mission (RORE) to BRP Sierra Mdre (LS 57) at Ayungin Shoal.”
In Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry said Filipino vessels were to blame for incidents.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), meanwhile, summoned Chinese embassy deputy chief of mission Zhou Zhiyong to relay Manila’s protest.
With Sindangan during resupply mission was BRP Cabra. They were deployed on orders of PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan to provide support to RORE operation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Tarriela said.
“Throughout operation, PCG vessels faced dangerous maneuvers and blocking from Chinese Coast Guard vessels and Chinese maritime militia, their reckless and illegal actions led to collision between MRRV-4407 (BRP Sindangan) and China Coast Guard 21555 resulted in minor structural damage to PCG vessel,” said Tarriela.
NTF-WPS said “unprovoked acts of coercion and dangerous maneuvers” of Chinese vessels led to one of them slightly hitting Unaizah May 4, shattering its windshield.
Those hurt in the water cannon attack were treated for their injuries on Sindangan. Names of injured and extent of their injuries were unavailable. Unaizah May 4 sailed back to mainland Palawan escorted by the Sindangan, while Unaizah May 1 managed to reach Sierra Madre at 10:54 in the morning to unload its cargo of food and other provisions.
“Once again, China’s latest unprovoked acts of coercion and dangerous maneuvers against legitimate and routine Philippine rotation and resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal, have put lives of our people at risk and caused actual injury to Filipinos on board UM4,” NTF-WPS said.
“Systematic and consistent manner in People’s Republic of China carries out these illegal and irresponsible actions puts into question sincerity of its calls for peaceful dialogue and lessening of tensions,” its statement read.
NTF-WPS said Philippines “continues to act peacefully and responsibly, consistent with international law, particularly UNCLOS and legally binding 2016 Arbitral Award. Peace and stability cannot be achieved without due regard for legitimate, well-established and legally settled rights of others.”
It said Philippines “will not be deterred” from exercising its legal rights over its maritime zones, including Ayungin Shoal, which forms part of country’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
“We demand China demonstrate that it is responsible and trustworthy member of international community,” the NTF-WPS said.
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said two Philippine Navy ships provided support to RORE mission.
Philippine Navy spokesman for the WPS Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said two unnamed vessels were in the area but were stationed 10 nautical miles from Ayungin Shoal.
When RORE was being carried out, there were four CCG vessels and 11 fishing or militia vessels monitored in the vicinity of Ayuning Shoal, Trinidad said.
He said latest incident was “ clear and present challenge to Philippine Navy in West Philippine Sea.”
“The situation is not normal, is not anymore normal but we are up to the challenge,” he pointed out.
He said China’s sinister plan first unfolded in 1992 when it began putting markers on shoals, shallow waters, reefs and other features within Philippine waters.
“In 1994 they prevented access to Mischief Reef. In 1990, late 90s they started erecting fishermen’s structures in Mischief Reef. In 2011 they started reclamation, then they militarized the area, they declared Air Defense Identification Zone, ADIZ so it is not anymore normal, it is now new paradigm or new environment that Philippine Navy and Western Command and Naval Forces West operate in West Philippine Sea” he said.
Trinidad said 43 CCG and militia vessels were monitored in West Philippine Sea, including four CCG vessels around Bajo de Masinloc along with 17 fishing vessels; two CCG ships and four fishing vessels in Ayungin Shoal and one CCG ship and 15 fishing vessels near Pagasa Island.
He said Philippine Navy and AFP “will continue ensuring integrity of our national territory and abide by the order, the statement of the commander-in-chief that we will not give up even square inch of Philippine territory.”
Senators Jinggoy Estrada, JV Ejercito and Grace Poe called on China to stop its aggression in West Philippine Sea.
“I call on China to respect international maritime laws, adhere to established norms and cease bullying tactics…such provocative actions are unacceptable,” Estrada, chairman of Senate’s national defense and security, peace, unification and reconciliation committee said.
“We call on the international community to closely monitor regional developments and support efforts to maintain rules-based order,” he added.
Ejercito said he was “outraged by China’s recent blatant aggression in West Philippine Sea,” as he commended PCG for standing up to the Chinese.
“Chinese vessels’ recent reckless maneuvers and blocking tactics at Ayungin Shoal are clear signs of desperate attempt to unlawfully seize Philippine territory. Hence, China’s delusion that West Philippine Sea belongs to them must be put to an end,” Ejercito said.
Poe said China has no right to block humanitarian missions to the grounded warship.
“I call on China to respect international maritime laws, adhere to established norms and cease bullying tactics. ..such provocative actions are unacceptable,” she said.
In his meeting with Zhou, DFA Deputy Assistant Secretary Raphael Hermoso emphasized China’s interference in Philippines’ activities in WPS is unacceptable.
“China’s actions in Ayungin Shoal infringes upon Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction, Philippines demands that Chinese vessels leave vicinity of Ayungin Shoal immediately,” the DFA said in statement.
United States, the European Union, Great Britain, Germany, Japan and Australia condemned China’s latest hostile actions in West Philippine Sea.
“We strongly condemn PRC’s dangerous maneuvers at Ayungin/Second Thomas Shoal, which endangered lives, resulted in injuries and damaged CoastGuardPH vessels in the Philippine EEZ,” US ambassador MaryKay Carlson said in post on X.
“ US stands with Philippines and proponents of international law in support of #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific,” she said.
EU Ambassador Luc Veron said he was “troubled by today’s pattern of dangerous maneuvers and blocking from Chinese Coast Guard vessels and maritime militia targeting Philippine vessels engaged in crucial resupply mission.”
“EU reiterates call for all parties to abide by legally binding 2016 Arbitration Award and #internationallaw to peacefully resolve disputes, guaranteeing safety in maritime waters,” Veron wrote on X.
United Kingdom condemned the Chinese for their “unsafe” actions in Philippine waters.
“UK condemns today’s unsafe actions by Chinese vessels against Philippines in Second Thomas Shoal, resulted in Philippine injuries,” British Ambassador Laure Beaufils said on X.
“UK reiterates its opposition to any action raises tensions & endangers lives, threatening regional peace & stability…we call for adherence to UNCLOS,” she said.
In statement, Japanese embassy expressed “grave concern on repeated dangerous actions” of CCG in South China Sea.
“Japan will continue to stand with Philippines and cooperate with like-minded countries to maintain peace and stability in the region,” the embassy said.
Australia, through its embassy, also condemned China’s latest provocative acts.
“Discussing peace and stability at #ASEAN50Aus Summit. Australia shares Philippines’ concerns about dangerous actions by China’s vessels at Second Thomas Shoal today,” Ambassador HK Yu said on X.
“We call for restraint and respect for international law, particularly UNCLOS,” she said.
German ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke said “Germany is concerned by today’s incidents involving dangerous maneuvers against Philippine Coast Guard vessels in resupply mission within Philippine EEZ.”
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