China ship blasts with water cannon, rams Philippine vessel

MANILA, Philippines — In yet another case of Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel blasted with water cannon and rammed a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship operating near Pag-asa Island yesterday morning.

According to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson on WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela, CCG-21559 directed its water cannon at Datu Pagbuaya at around 9:15 a.m., hitting the Philippine vessel.

Just three minutes later, at 9:18 a.m., the same Chinese ship rammed the stern of the Datu Pagbuaya, causing minor structural damage. No crew injuries were reported.

“This morning, while three BFAR vessels, including the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, were safely anchored in the territorial waters of Pag-asa Island to provide protection for Filipino fishermen as part of the Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda (KBBM), they faced dangerous and provocative maneuvers from the China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels,” Tarriela said in a statement.

“Around 8:15 a.m., the Chinese maritime forces approached dangerously close, activating their water cannons as a clear threat against the BFAR vessels,” he added.

The incident adds to a series of confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the WPS, including several recent cases of water cannon attacks and ramming near Ayungin and Escoda Shoals.

Last month, the Philippine government said one person was injured when a water cannon attack by a CCG vessel shattered a window on the bridge of another fisheries bureau ship, Datu Gumbay Piang, near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

In August, a Chinese navy vessel collided with one from its own coast guard while chasing a Philippine patrol boat near the same shoal also called Bajo de Masinloc.

Reacting to the latest maritime incident, the CCG claimed the Philippine vessel “ignored repeated stern warnings from the Chinese side, and dangerously approached” the Chinese ship.

“Full responsibility lies with the Philippine side,” spokesman Liu Dejun said in an online statement.

The PCG said it will continue its operations despite China’s coercive actions, affirming its resolve to “remain undeterred” amid persistent harassment and direct threats from Chinese vessels in the waters off Pag-asa Island.

Illegal, reckless

The National Maritime Council condemned what it called the “illegal” and “reckless” actions of Chinese vessels in the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island as it called on China to refrain from provocative acts and to respect international law.

The council pointed out that Pag-asa Island forms part of the Kalayaan Island Group, an integral part of the Philippines, over which it has longstanding sovereignty and jurisdiction.

The Philippines, the council added, is clearly within its rights to conduct routine maritime operations in and around Pag-asa Island, and would continue to do so.

“The actions of Philippine authorities in the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island are a valid exercise of Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction, and consistent with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, as well as the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” the council said.

“China must be sincere and hold true to its call for dialogue and consultation by demonstrating constructive actions and desisting from all provocative actions,” it added.

Condemnation from United States, European Union, United Kingdom

The United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union all issued statements condemning the incident.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines will lodge a diplomatic protest over the incident.

“Chinese dangerous actions today in the waters of Pag-asa Island further destabilise in the SCS/WPS,” the EU in the Philippines said in a post on X.

“We reiterate our call for restraint and full respect for the rules-based international order, including UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award. Freedom of navigation must be upheld,” it added.

The US also sided with the Philippines on the matter.

“The US condemns China’s aggressive actions in defiance of international law and supports the Philippines in pursuit of a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific,” US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson wrote on X.

“Tremendous valor and skill by Filipino personnel in the face of China’s dangerous ramming and use of water cannons near Thitu/Pag-asa Island,” she said.

The UK, for its part, expressed concern with China’s maritime actions in the WPS.

“We call for an end to dangerous tactics in the South China Sea and urge respect for international law and the peaceful resolution of disputes,” the British embassy in Manila said in a post on X. — AFP, Alexis Romero, Pia Lee-Brago