MANILA — A Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel blasted water cannons and sideswiped a Philippine ship conducting a routine marine scientific research mission in the vicinity of Pagasa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Wednesday.
The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) issued the statement on Thursday, condemning what it called “hostile actions” by the CCG against its two marine scientific research vessels in the WPS.
According to BFAR, this is the first time that the CCG has used water cannons against its research vessels in the area of Pag-asa Cays.
“On May 21, the two DA-BFAR vessels, BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3002) and BRP Datu Pagbuaya (MMOV 3003), were on a routine mission with a Filipino scientific team to collect sand samples as part of a marine scientific research initiative,” the agency detailed.
“At approximately 09:13 a.m., CCG vessel 21559 water cannoned and sideswiped the BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3002) twice, resulting in some damage to the latter’s port bow and smokestack, and putting at risk (the) lives of its civilian personnel onboard,” it added.
Despite this, the agency said its vessels were able to complete their operations in Pag-Asa Cays 1, 2, and 3.
For his part, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said China’s harassment “will not stop” PCG and the BFAR “ from supporting the country’s marine scientific research.
“We’re still going to exercise our sovereignty and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. Whether it’s inside the territorial sea of Pagasa or outside in different areas of the West Philippine Sea,” Tarriela told reporters also on Thursday.
Since January, Philippine authorities have been monitoring the movements of CCG vessels “unlawfully operating” within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Beijing’s continued aggression was based on its assertion of sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, as it continues to reject the 2016 arbitral ruling that effectively dismissed its claims and ruled in favor of Manila. (Faith Argosino © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
