Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 10) — The Philippine government has filed a diplomatic protest after a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) fired a water cannon at a Philippine vessel in an attempt to block a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal on Friday, the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea said.
It said CCG vessel 5203 deployed a water cannon against Philippine supply vessel M/L Kalayaan to force it to alter its course ahead of the resupply mission to troops stationed in BRP Sierra Madre.
The task force added that two Philippine supply boats were also subjected to “extremely reckless and dangerous harassment at close proximity” by CCG rigid-hulled inflatable boats inside the Ayungin Shoal lagoon. But it said the boats were able to successfully reach BRP Sierra Madre.
The task force said the Department of Foreign Affairs reported that the Philippine Embassy in Beijing filed a demarche with the Chinese foreign ministry and protested these actions through the Maritime Communications Mechanism.
This is the 125th diplomatic protest filed during the Marcos administration.
“We firmly insist that Chinese vessels responsible for these illegal activities leave the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal immediately,” NTF-WPS said in a statement. “The systematic and consistent manner in which the People’s Republic of China carries out these illegal and irresponsible actions puts into question and significant doubt the sincerity of its calls for peaceful dialogue.
China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu insisted that its ships are tailing Philippine vessels in accordance with the law, insisting China has “indisputable sovereignty” in the area — despite an international tribunal at The Hague invalidating Beijing’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea — which includes the West Philippine Sea.
Senator Risa Hontiveros slammed China for its habitual abuse and gaslighting.
“It is unfortunate that while this recent incident is alarming, it is not entirely surprising,” she said in a statement “This pattern of abuse is one that China has mastered and will continue to follow without remorse. Abuser na, gaslighter pa [They’re abusers and gaslighters].”
“We, in government, must double down on our efforts to educate our public and campaign for the one and only truth: Atin ang West Philippine Sea [The WPS is ours],” she also said.
Based on the monitoring of security analyst Ray Powell, China deployed its largest number of vessels in this latest Philippine resupply mission.
“It looks like five Coast Guards and 20 militia vessels in the area when the resupply was underway,” he said. “This indicates that both sides are in for a long struggle. The Philippines certainly committed itself to the idea that it will assert its rights. China is not backing away , so both sides indicate that they are in it for the long haul.”
CNN Philippines’ Lara Tan and Tristan Nodalo contributed to this report.
