China’s water cannon attack endangers PH vessel

Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels launched another water cannon assault on a Philippine patrol boat near Scarborough Shoal on December 4.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) were conducting a maritime patrol near Bajo de Masinloc to support Filipino fishermen when the CCGs suddenly attacked them.

"The PCG and BFAR vessels are legitimately patrolling our waters, while it is China that is encroaching upon them and militarizing the area by deploying PLA Navy vessels to shadow PCG operations," PCG spokesperson Jay Tarriela explained.

According to Tarriela, five different CCG vessels doused the BRP Datu Pagbuaya and BFAR with water cannons.

“During this operation, our vessels encountered aggressive actions from several Chinese Coast Guard vessels, specifically CCG 5303, 3302, 3104, as well as People's Liberation Army Navy vessels with bow numbers 500 and 571," Tarriela said.

The attack was made 16 nautical miles south of Bajo de Masinloc, an area still within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Tarriela added that CCG vessel 5303 “intentionally sideswiped” the PCG, endangering their crew.

This attack marks yet another aggressive move by China in its ongoing effort to assert dominance in the contested waters of the WPS.

The spokesperson also reported that BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Cabra also faced “blocking, shadowing, and dangerous maneuvers” from different Chinese vessels, including two People’s Liberation Army Navy ships in the Scarborough Shoal.

“In two assaults about 20 minutes apart, the Chinese vessel fired its water cannons at the Pagbuaya, targeting its navigation and communications equipment to cause damage,” Tarriela reported.

In a statement, meanwhile, a CCG spokesperson accused the Philippine vessels of intruding into their territory.

China seized control of the shoal in 2012, and since then reports of attacks and aggressive maneuvers toward Filipino fishermen have increased rapidly.

The PCG emphasized that the aforementioned attacks are located within the Philippines’ EEZ and that the country has full jurisdiction over Bajo de Masinloc as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Ruling.

"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. The Philippines has sovereignty over it, including its territorial sea," Tarriela stated.

He then said that the CCG's actions are not typical law enforcement and should be seen as unlawful aggression under international law.

Tarriela emphasized that the PCG and BFAR remain steadfast in their mission “to protect the rights and safety of our fishermen within our maritime jurisdiction.”

“We will continue to be vigilant in safeguarding our national interests in the West Philippine Sea,” he said.