Metro Manila, Philippines — A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel rammed the BRP Teresa Magbanua three times in Escoda Shoal, a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) official said on Saturday, Aug. 31.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said that the Teresa Magbanua heaved in its anchor around 8:50 a.m. on Saturday “with the intention of loitering around Escoda Shoal.”
“Since the Chinese maritime forces noticed the movement of the Philippine Coast Guard vessel, that’s the time that more China Coast Guard vessels arrived, and more Chinese maritime militia vessels also supported all of these maritime forces to surround our vessel,” Tarriela said in a news conference.
Tarriela shared videos of a CCG vessel with bow number 5205 ramming the 97-meter PCG ship thrice, timestamped within 12:07 p.m. to 12:22 p.m.
This afternoon, the Chinese Coast Guard vessel deliberately rammed and collided with the BRP Teresa Magbanua three times, despite no provocation from the Philippine Coast Guard. pic.twitter.com/jYnrXKpY3W
— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) August 31, 2024
According to Tarriela, the Chinese vessel “carried out a dangerous maneuver, resulting to its direct ramming on the port bow” of the Teresa Magbanua. Minutes later, the Chinese ship turned around to ram the PCG ship’s starboard quarter and then the port beam.
He said the CCG vessel ignored collision regulations.
Tarriela said no personnel were injured but the PCG vessel incurred damages with the latest maritime incident.
“The Philippine Coast Guard vessel did not provoke or did not do anything while we are loitering around Escoda Shoal but the Chinese Coast Guard carried out dangerous maneuvers despite of being unprovoked,” he said.
“This is a serious concern,” National Maritime Council spokesperson Alexander Lopez said at the same news conference. “Our Department of Foreign Affairs has conveyed our deep concerns over the incidents to the Chinese Embassy in Manila and the Philippine Embassy in Beijing.”
The maritime incidents followed the previous blocking by 40 Chinese vessels of a Philippine resupply mission to Escoda Shoal. A vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources also encountered “illegal actions” from the Chinese navy, including ramming and deploying a water cannon, near the shoal.
The Teresa Magbanua has been stationed in Escoda Shoal since April as the Philippines suspects China of conducting reclamation activities in the area.
Escoda Shoal, internationally known as Sabina Shoal, is located over 75 nautical miles from Palawan. This is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
“Despite the harassment, bullying activities, and escalatory actions of the Chinese Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard vessel Teresa Magbanua or any replacement of the vessel, there will be no reason for us to withdraw our coast guard vessels there,” Tarriela said.
CCG spokesperson Liu Dejun claimed the Philippine vessel was “illegally stranded” in what China calls the Xianbin Jiao lagoon, according to a statement from the Chinese Embassy in Manila.
Liu said the Teresa Magbanua “deliberately rammed China’s normal rights protection and law enforcement ship 5205 in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, resulting in a collision, and the responsibility lies entirely with the Philippine side.”
“We once again tell the Philippine side to face up to reality, give up illusions, and withdraw immediately on its own,” the embassy statement read. “The only correct way is not to misjudge the situation, create hot spots and escalate the situation, otherwise the Philippines will bear all the consequences arising therefrom.”
Liu said China will take “necessary measures to resolutely thwart all infringements that provoke trouble and cause trouble, and resolutely safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”
China has rejected the 2016 Arbitral Award that invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea. — with reports from NewsWatch Plus Senior Correspondent Tristan Nodalo
