In the latest China versus Philippines, a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ship blocked and fired water cannons at Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship going to Ayungin Shoal for a resupply mission, the PCG said in a statement on Sunday, Aug 6th, 2023.
The water-cannon incident happened on Saturday as PCG vessel were escorting indigenous boats chartered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to deliver food and supplies to military troops stationed on BRP Sierra Madre. The incident was captured on video by Philippine Coast Guard Officer Jay Tarriela and a drone video also made rounds on social media.
Unconfirmed video of dangerous and hostile action yesterday by China Coast Guard against small, unarmed PH vessel manned by the PH Navy on its way to resupply its Ayungin (2nd Thomas) Shoal outpost. CN again violates the principle of self-restraint under the 2002 DOC. pic.twitter.com/TCjBsODiuX
— Jay L Batongbacal (@JayBatongbacal) August 6, 2023
Philippine Coast Guard Officer Jay Tarriela said that “The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) strongly condemns the China Coast Guard’s (CCG’s) dangerous maneuvers and illegal use of water cannons against the PCG vessels escorting the indigenous boats chartered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday, 5 August 2023.” Tarriela added that “Such actions by the CCG not only disregarded the safety of the PCG crew and the supply boats but also violated international law, including 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.”
Here’s the full text of what Philippine Coast Guard Officer Jay Tarriela on his social media account;
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) strongly condemns the China Coast Guard's (CCG's) dangerous maneuvers and illegal use of water cannons against the PCG vessels escorting the indigenous boats chartered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday, 5 August 2023. These… pic.twitter.com/R6IiHKCnJa
— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) August 6, 2023
Philippine Coast Guard Officer Jay Tarriela later posted a number of videos regarding the incident;
The Philippine Coast Guard expresses strong condemnation towards the unlawful behavior exhibited by the China Coast Guard vessels (CCG 4203 and CCG 5305) for their unwarranted use of water cannons against the MRRV-4409. Additionally, we call on the CCG to adhere to the COLREGS… pic.twitter.com/iSI2DU6JWP
— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) August 7, 2023
And “recorded evidence of the Chinese Maritime Militia working in conjunction with the Chinese Coast Guard”
The @coastguardph has recorded evidence of the Chinese Maritime Militia working in conjunction with the Chinese Coast Guard to obstruct the resupply boat's passage towards Ayungin Shoal. pic.twitter.com/q3IA7QdpOC
— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) August 7, 2023
It’s unclear what will be the response of Chinese envoy in the Philippine after being summoned by a deputy minister of the Philippines’ foreign affairs department.
[…] hours after the incident between Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the WPS, United States Embassy in the Philippine release a statement in support of the Philippines and the […]