China Coast Guard 'dangerously blocked' BRP Cabra near Bajo de Masinloc —PCG

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday said a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel “dangerously blocked” BRP Cabra during a maritime patrol near Bajo de Masinloc on Monday.

In a statement, PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said CCG vessel 21612 increased its speed around 36.35 nautical miles south of Bajo de Masinloc.

Tarriela said the Chinese vessel “maneuvered past the port side of the BRP Cabra, dangerously blocking its navigation route.”

According to Tarriela, the incident showed the CCG's non-compliance with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) and blatant disregard for safety at sea.

“While coast guards are typically recognized as enforcers of maritime safety and humanitarian organizations, the actions of the People's Republic of China diverge from these norms,” Tarriela said.

“Their illegal patrols jeopardize the lives of fishermen and legitimate law enforcement agencies alike,” he added.

Bajo de Masinloc is located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, and is considered within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Bajo de Masinloc is also referred to as Panatag Shoal or Scarborough Shoal.

GMA News Online sought comment from the Chinese Embassy in Manila about the matter but it has yet to provide a statement as of posting time.

Tarriela said BRP Cabra on Tuesday is actively patrolling off the coast of Zambales to thwart attempts by the CCG to normalize its illegal patrols within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).  

“Despite the BRP Cabra being smaller in length compared to the CCG vessels, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan asserts that international law empowers our vessel to operate without intimidation,” Tarriela said.

“This confidence allows the BRP Cabra to challenge the CCG, thereby exposing their unruly behavior and bullying tactics to the international community,” he added.

Tarriela noted that the PCG holds maritime patrols in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2016 Arbitral Award, and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.

Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

China has refused to recognize the decision. —KG, GMA Integrated News