7-8-2023 (MANILA) The Philippines has strongly condemned China’s water cannon attack on Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels in the West Philippine Sea. The incident occurred near Ayungin Shoal during a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine outpost in the disputed waters.
China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels fired water cannons at the PCG ships while they were escorting boats delivering essential supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre. The Philippines has asserted that the area where the attack took place is within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and falls under its sovereign rights.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expressed its concerns and filed diplomatic protests over China’s increasingly hostile actions in the region. The DFA emphasized that Ayungin Shoal is part of the Philippines’ EEZ and continental shelf, as recognized by international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the PCG-West Philippine Sea, condemned China’s dangerous maneuvers and aggression. The PCG called on the China Coast Guard to respect the Philippines’ sovereign rights, refrain from obstructing freedom of navigation, and take appropriate action against those responsible for the unlawful incident.
Photographs provided by Tarriela showed Chinese vessels, CCG 4203 and CCG 5303, using water cannons against the PCG’s BRP Malabrigo. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the PCG personnel or the boats being escorted.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also condemned the water cannon attack, stating that it prevented the successful completion of the resupply mission. The AFP urged the China Coast Guard to act responsibly and avoid endangering lives through dangerous maneuvers.
China’s Coast Guard spokesman, Gan Yu, claimed that Philippine ships had illegally entered China’s waters in the Nansha Islands and that necessary controls were implemented to stop them. However, the Philippines maintains that Ayungin Shoal is well within its maritime zones.
This incident is not the first of its kind, as there have been previous instances of CCG ships attempting to block PCG vessels from reaching Ayungin Shoal. The Philippines is set to conduct joint sea patrols with the United States in the near future, aimed at upholding freedom of navigation in the region.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri criticized China’s actions, describing them as a display of might against right and warning that such behavior should be condemned by the international community. Other senators echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need to protect the country’s sovereignty and sovereign rights.
