By Alec Go
The China Coast Guard (CCG) has again made a dangerous maneuver and even illegally used water cannons against Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels that were escorting boats to deliver supplies to military troops in Ayungin Shoal, the PCG reported.
PCG Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the boats escorted by the PCG were chartered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to deliver food, water, fuel, and other supplies to troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin.
The AFP said the rotation and resupply mission was not completed as the second supply boat was not able to unload the supplies because of CCG’s move.
The PCG condemned CCG’s actions which “not only disregarded the safety of the PCG crew and the supply boats but also violated international law” that included the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
“The PCG calls on the China Coast Guard to restrain its forces, respect the sovereign rights of the Philippines in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, refrain from hampering freedom of navigation, and take appropriate actions against the individuals involved in this unlawful incident,” he said.
The PCG called on CCG “to observe state obligations under UNCLOS, COLREGs, and other relevant instruments of international maritime safety and security, to cease all illegal activities within the maritime zones of the Philippines.”
In late June this year, the PCG reported that the CCG has blocked PCG vessels as they approach Ayungin Shoal to support the AFP’s naval operation.
Another incident in June involved a Chinese vessel shadowing a Philippine vessel from Pag-asa Island to deliver fishing equipment to fisherfolk.
In April, the BRP Malapascua almost collided with a CCG ship when it suddenly intercepted the Malapascua in a dangerous maneuver while it was entering Ayungin Shoal.
‘Grave concern’
In a separate statement, the AFP strongly condemned and expressed “grave concern” over the CCG’s “ excessive and unlawful actions against Philippine vessels.”
The AFP said the CCG’s acts are “in wanton disregard of the safety of the people on board and in violation of international law,” particularly UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
“We call on the China Coast Guard and the Central Military Commission to act with prudence and be responsible in their actions to prevent miscalculations and accidents that will endanger peoples’ lives,” it stated
‘Unwarranted interference’
In another statement, the United States, a Philippine ally, said it stands with the Philippines following the August 5 incident.
“Firing water cannons and employing unsafe blocking maneuvers, PRC [People’s Republic of China] ships interfered with the Philippines’ lawful exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and jeopardized the safety of the Philippine vessels and crew,” it stated.
The U.S. called the move “inconsistent with international law and are the latest in repeated threats to the status quo in the South China Sea, directly threatening regional peace and stability.”
“The United States reaffirms an armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces—including those of its Coast Guard in the South China Sea—would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S. Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty,” it stated. – gb
