China again bombarded Philippine boats with water cannons

Manila – For the seventh time since August last year, Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels used water cannons in an attempt to intercept two Philippine civilian vessels near Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Tuesday.

It was China's latest aggressive move against the Filipinos in the WPS, re-escalating maritime and diplomatic tensions between Manila and Beijing, and was carried out by the CCG at a time when US forces are in the country for annual „polykathon” exercises with Philippine troops.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela of the WPS said two civilian vessels – BRP Bagacay of the PCG and BRP Bankaw of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) were harassed by the CCG at separate locations en route. Scarborough.

The PCG boat was on patrol while the PFAR was on its way to deliver food and fuel to Filipino fishermen.

At 9:53 am, bow no. A CCG ship with 3305 trained its water cannon 12 nautical miles off BRP Banca, Tarriela said in a statement.

Bow no. Two other CCG ships, 3105 and 5303, made a similar attack on Baghey, about 1000 yards off Scarborough, causing damage to the ship's rails and canopy, he added.

„This damage serves as a testament to China's Coast Guard's strong water pressure in harassing Philippine ships,” he said.

They 'stood their ground'

In total, the PCG and BFAR missions encountered „dangerous maneuvers and obstructions” by four CCGs and six Chinese maritime combat vessels.

„Despite the Chinese Coast Guard's harassing and provocative actions, both the PCG and PFAR ships stood their ground and continued their maritime patrols,” Dariela said.

A GMA News drone footage showed the harassing CCG ship aiming its jet of water at the Philippine flag hoisted aboard the PCG ship for a sustained period of time during the attack on Bagacay.

NSC: 'Shocking, horrifying'

In a statement on Tuesday night, the National Security Council (NSC) said China's latest ban on a Philippine „humanitarian mission” helping fishermen in Scarborough was „not only shocking but appalling”.

The NSC said Bangkao was hit at least eight times by „targeted high-pressure water cannons” and three times by CCG and Chinese naval warships.

According to the NSC, the ship sustained damage to its hull and its electrical, navigation and radio systems.

As of 7pm on Tuesday, the PCG and BFAR ships had regrouped about 37 kilometers (20 nautical miles) off Scarborough to assess their damage, the NSC said.

„China's recent demonstrations of illegal and irresponsible behavior highlight their disregard for the legitimate exercise of the Philippines' rights and entitlements in our own economic zone,” the NSC said.

The incidents, the NSC added, show that China has „no concern for the welfare of our fishermen who only want to make a decent living” in the WPS.

„China's action to block civilian vessels carrying only supplies for our fishermen calls into question the sincerity of their dialogue and peaceful approaches to de-escalate the situation in the West Philippine Sea,” it said.

According to the NSC, peace and stability in the region cannot be achieved „if countries, large or small, do not pay due respect to the well-established and legally settled rights of others.”

The council said the Philippines „shall not be deterred from carrying out legal and lawful activities” in the country's maritime zones, including Scarborough, despite the increasing incidents of harassment from China.

Re-floating barrier

According to a PCG official, the CCG has again installed a 380-metre-long floating barrier blocking the entry point to the shoal.

The ban on an area recognized as traditional fishing grounds by the Philippines comes in a 2016 arbitration ruling that revoked Beijing's claim to much of the South China Sea, including the country's exclusive economic zone.

During a similar mission in September, the Philippines discovered a floating obstacle across the entrance to the shoal. PCG personnel, in a special operation ordered by President Marcos, cut the rope connecting the barrier to an anchor and allowed it to move.

The CCG then removed a row of floats from the water.

Captured in 2012

China seized the shoal after a standoff with the Philippine navy in 2012, and Manila says it has since harassed Philippine ships and blocked access to the fish-rich lagoon.

Tuesday's incident angered Beijing as the Philippines and the United States held a major annual military exercise.

Manila and Beijing have a long history of territorial disputes in the South China Sea, with several skirmishes in recent months involving Philippine and Chinese vessels, as well as the use of water cannons by the Chinese coast guard.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, brushing off competing claims by other countries, including the Philippines, and an international ruling that its claim has no legal basis.

The triangular chain of rocks and reefs that make up Scarborough Shoal is located about 240 km (150 mi) west of Luzon, the main island of the Philippines, and nearly 900 km from the nearest large Chinese mainland, Hainan.

Marcos, since taking office in 2022, has resisted China's growing assertiveness in the waterway, insisting that the Philippines will „not give in” as it defends its sovereign territory.

previous attacks

Two CCG water cannon attacks were reported on March 5 and March 23 this year, injuring a total of seven Philippine marines. Both engaged Philippine boats en route to resupply troops to man PRP Sierra Madre, which had landed at Ayung's (Thomas II) Shoal.

In 2023, Philippine ships were subjected to similar attacks four times—August 5, November 10, December 9 and December 10.

In its version of the incident on Tuesday, China said its coast guard vessels „evacuate the Philippine Coast Guard Vessel 4410 and Government Vessel 3004 after they entered the waters adjacent to Huangyan Island”.

China urged the Philippines to stop provocations and not challenge China's determination to protect its sovereignty, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

„Philippine ships intruded without China's permission and the Chinese coast guard took necessary measures to repel them,” Chinese ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.