PCG: China Coast Guard fired water cannon vs 2 more BFAR vessels near Pag-asa Island

The China Coast Guard (CGG) fired water cannon against two more vessels of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) near Pag-asa Island on Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Monday.

At a press conference, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said that initially, it was reported that only BRP Datu Pagbuaya was directly hit by CCG 21559.

“This was BRP Datu Bankaw. This is the second BFAR vessel that was also water cannoned by CCG 21559…Here is CCG 21559 again conducting dangerous maneuvers and using its water cannon against BRP Datu Sanday,” Tarriela said.

“All in all, there were three BFAR vessels that were subjected to water cannon by CCG 21559,” he added.

According to Tarriela, the PCG just received this development from the BFAR.

Tarriela noted that only BRP Datu Pagbuaya was directly hit and had sustained significant impact from the Chinese vessel’s ramming and water cannoning.

According to Tarriela, six BFAR vessels were deployed to Pag-asa Island for the ''Kadiwa ng Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda'' (KBBM) program to ensure the safety and security of the Filipino fishermen there.

Five CCG vessels—5102, 21559, 5009, 3305, and 23519—entered the territorial waters of Pag-asa Island. Aside from them, more than 15 Chinese maritime militia vessels were spotted in the area.

Around six nautical miles from Pag-asa Island, a ship and a chopper of the People's Liberation Army Navy were also monitored.

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. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News