PCG to make recommendations after China's stronger water cannon attacks

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will send a recommendation to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF WPS) after Chinese vessels used higher pressure in their recent water cannon attacks on Philippine vessels in Scarborough Shoal.

Coast Guard spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said the China Coast Guard (CCG) used around 200 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure that bent the metal railings of a Philippine ship.

“With this level of PSI that they used now after this incident, we're going to make recommendation. Formally, submit the report to the NTF. And then perhaps, there will be changes or there will be none,” he said during a podcast of WPS Defenders on X (formerly Twitter).

Tarriela made the statement when asked if there will be changes in the maximum tolerance approach and operational guidelines of the Philippines considering that China had elevated its actions in the WPS.

“But again on our part, we can just make [a] recommendation. It is still subject to the approval of the commander-in-chief,” Tarriela said.

On Tuesday, the PCG said CCG vessels fired water cannons at Philippine civilian vessels en route to Scarborough Shoal, which is also called Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.

The PCG vessel BRP Bagacay sustained damage on a part of its superstructure.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel BRP Bankaw—which was also rammed by Chinese vessels three times— sustained damage on its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, electrical, navigation, and radio systems and superficial hull.

Several countries have expressed concern over the incident.

A Reuters report, meanwhile, quoted Chinese ministry spokesperson Lin Jian as telling the Philippines to stop provocations and to not challenge China's determination to safeguard its "sovereignty."

"Philippine ships intruded without China's permission and the Chinese coast guard took necessary measures to drive them away," said Lin Jian, who was addressing a query on the matter.

The Philippines and China have repeatedly clashed in recent months at the submerged reef, which Manila says is in its exclusive economic zone.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China's claims had no legal basis. Beijing, however, refused to recognize the ruling. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News