Philippines slams China’s ‘provocative, dangerous’ actions vs. BFAR ship

The Philippines' National Maritime Council (NMC) on Wednesday called out China after two of its Coast Guard vessels and a militia ship carried out "provocative and dangerous actions" towards a Filipino ship at the Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) on Tuesday.

“The provocative and dangerous actions of China’s vessels in the West Philippine Sea, which placed lives and vessels at risk, clearly violate the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, and relevant international maritime safety regulations,” said NMC in a statement. 

The council also called on Beijing to stop its illegal activities in the highly contested West Philippine Sea. 

“The Philippines calls on China to cease its illegal, provocative, and dangerous activities in the West Philippine Sea and instead help create an environment that is conducive for diplomacy, dialogue, and constructive approaches for the two countries’ bilateral relationship,” said NMC. 

China Coast Guard vessels 5201 and 21562 on Tuesday water cannoned BFAR’s BRP Datu Gumbay Piang while conducting a resupply mission. This resulted in damage to the Filipino ship and injured one crewman, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. 

A Chinese maritime militia vessel, CMM 00001, also conducted dangerous maneuvers and attempted to blast water cannons on the Filipino ship.

The PCG also said that there was a People’s Liberation Army-Navy warship with bow number 525 that issued a radio broadcast announcing live-fire exercises at specified coordinates in the vicinity of the Bajo de Masinloc. 

“The Philippines remains steadfast in continuing its lawful and routine operations in its maritime zones in the West Philippine Sea, in the exercise of its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction, consistent with international law,” the NMC said. 

The Philippines refers to parts of the waters within its exclusive economic zone as the West Philippine Sea—or 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.

The 2016 arbitration ruling upheld the Philippines' exclusive economic zone over China's historical claims in the disputed South China Sea under UNCLOS. Beijing has never recognized the decision. —VBL, GMA Integrated News