MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has summoned Chinese Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong over the latest water cannon incident in Scarborough Shoal, or Bajo de Masinloc.
DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said the Philippine government is protesting the latest incident that left the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel, BRP Bagacay, damaged in its canopy and steel railing.
“The Philippine government protested the harassment, ramming, swarming, shadowing, blocking, use of water cannons, and other aggressive actions by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia against Philippine vessels,” Daza said in a statement.
The water cannon attack took place on early Tuesday as CCG vessels fired at Philippine civilian vessels en route to Scarborough Shoal for a supply mission.
Aside from BRP Bagacay, a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel identified as BRP Bankaw was also water cannoned by Chinese vessels.
Meanwhile, the PCG is sending a recommendation to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF WPS) after the China Coast Guard used around 200 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure that bent the metal railings of a Philippine ship.
“With this level of PSI that they used now after this incident, we’re going to make recommendation. Formally, submit the report to the NTF. And then perhaps, there will be changes or there will be none,” PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said.
“But again on our part, we can just make [a] recommendation. It is still subject to the approval of the commander-in-chief,” he added.
The Philippines and China have repeatedly clashed in recent months at the submerged reef, which the former is claiming that is in its exclusive economic zone.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China’s claims had no legal basis. Beijing, however, refused to recognize the ruling./PN
