Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11) — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has seen the largest swarm of Chinese vessels – totaling 38 – in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal during the latest resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre outpost, the agency said on Saturday.
The resupply mission on Friday morning was hindered by Beijing’s vessels, one of them firing a water cannon at a Filipino supply boat, something China has done in the past.
The PCG said the Chinese Coast Guard’s (CCG) rigid hull inflatable boats also conducted extremely reckless maneuvers and harassed two other Filipino supply boats. Despite this, the Philippines successfully completed its mission.
\”Based on the presentation that we gave, there were only six CMMVs [Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels] that actively participated in the blocking operations and there were five CCG vessels,\” PCG spokesperson for the WPS Jay Tarriela told the media.
\”All in all, there were 11 who actively participated in carrying out dangerous maneuvers to the PCG vessels and also to the resupply boats,\” he also said.
“If you are asking as to the number of the Chinese vessels present in the vicinity of the Ayungin Shoal, I think it’s fair to say that this is the highest number because there were 38 documented,” he added.
According to the PCG, 16 CMMVs were physically monitored while 12 CMMVs were detected through the Automatic Identification System.
Furthermore, China deployed five CCG ships accompanied by aluminum rigid hull inflatable boats, and five People’s Liberation Army Navy vessels.
‘ ’13’: ‘image’: ‘jcr:c99e3c5e-239b-455f-88f6-e5e82f6c3e07’ ‘imageCaption’: ‘These are the Chinese vessels monitored by the PCG, as shown
In October, the Philippines conducted a resupply mission which China also attempted to interrupt, resulting in a collision with a civilian supply boat and a PCG ship.
Five CCG ships and eight CMMVs actively participated in harassing the Filipino vessels during the October resupply mission.
This latest incident adds to the growing tensions between the Philippines and China, as the eastern superpower escalates its aggression towards Filipino vessels within Manila’s exclusive economic zone.
