CCG Fires Water Cannons at PH Vessels on Aid Mission

During a mission aimed at delivering fuel subsidies to Filipino fishermen at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, Philippine fisheries vessels were met with water cannon blasts from the China Coast Guard (C.C.G.) ship, reported by the Philippine Coast Guard (P.C.G.) on Thursday.

At 5:54 A.M., the C.C.G. vessel approached the bow of BRP Datu Dumangsil, closing the distance to approximately 50 meters. Then, at 6:29 A.M., it unleashed its water cannons for over two minutes, resulting in an indirect hit.

Another Chinese vessel, C.C.G. 21579, was noted to have passed within 500 meters of BRP Datu Paiburong around 6 A.M., an action the P.C.G. deemed a dangerous maneuver.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) aimed not only to provide fuel subsidies, but also to distribute food packs to Filipino fishers amid rising fuel costs, as part of the “Kadiwa ng Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda” program.

P.C.G. spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (W.P.S.), Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela, stated, “These actions violated the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) and endangered Filipino personnel engaged in a purely humanitarian undertaking.”

Fortunately, this indirect attack did not result in any injuries, allowing the BFAR to proceed with its mission.

Despite the harassment, M/V Mamalakaya and BRP Datu Cabaylo successfully distributed fuel subsidies and food packs by mid-morning, while BRP Datu Sumakwel continued its patrol and resupply operations.

To enhance maritime domain awareness, the P.C.G. deployed a Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft to monitor Panatag Shoal. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft encountered a radio challenge from Chinese forces while operating within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (E.E.Z.). The aircraft also monitored two Chinese Maritime Militia vessels and one People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel.

The P.C.G. has confirmed its commitment to continue providing services and maintaining a lawful presence in the W.P.S., noting that the 2016 arbitral award recognized the traditional fishing rights of Filipino fishermen at Panatag Shoal.

Scarborough Shoal, a heavily contested atoll located within the E.E.Z., is effectively under Chinese control, which has sustained a continuous coast guard presence since a standoff with the Philippine Navy in 2012.

Beijing asserts claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, including the waters of the W.S.P., which fall within the country’s 370-kilometer E.E.Z. The Chinese government continues to disregard a 2016 ruling from an international arbitral tribunal that invalidated its claims and affirmed Manila’s sovereign rights over these waters.