Manila: A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel reportedly fired water cannons at a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship during a routine patrol near Bajo de Masinloc on Wednesday. This incident marks another episode of tension between the two nations over disputed waters.
According to Philippines News Agency, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, criticized China’s actions as “not standard law enforcement” but rather acts of “unlawful aggression.” He detailed that at approximately 6:30 AM, the CCG 3302 vessel directed a water cannon at the BRP Datu Pagbuaya (MMOV 3003), specifically targeting the ship’s navigational antennas while it was situated 16 nautical miles south of Bajo de Masinloc.
Following this initial aggression, the CCG vessel “intentionally sideswiped” the BRP Datu Pagbuaya on its starboard side and launched another water cannon assault, Tarriela reported. He further emphasized that the PCG and BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) vessels were conducting legi
timate patrols in Philippine waters, asserting that it is China who is encroaching and militarizing the area by utilizing PLA (People’s Liberation Army) Navy vessels to shadow PCG operations.
Additional PCG vessels, such as the BRP Teresa Magbanua, encountered blocking, shadowing, and dangerous maneuvers from PLA Navy vessel 500 and CCG 503. Similarly, the BRP Cabra faced reckless maneuvers by CCG 3104 at a proximity of 300 yards, as per Tarriela’s statements. These vessels were on routine maritime patrol to support Filipino fishers in the contested area.
Tarriela reiterated that “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 UNCLOS. He affirmed that the Philippines holds sovereignty over it, including its territorial sea, and that the waters beyond Bajo de Masinloc’s 12-nautical-mile territorial sea fall within the Philippine EEZ (exclusive economic zone) measured from Luzon’s baseline.
In light of
the incident, the PCG reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Filipino fishers and safeguarding the Philippines’ jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea. (Heidi Lacambra, OJT/PNA)
