Chinese vessels collided with AFP-contracted boat, PCG boat during resupply mission

A China Coast Guard ship's "dangerous blocking maneuvers" led to a collision with an indigenous boat contracted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said Sunday.

According to the NTF-WPS, the "provocative, irresponsible, and illegal action" of the China Coast Guard ship "imperiled the safety" of the Unaizah May 2 crew.

In the same resupply mission, a Chinese Maritime Militia vessel "bumped" the Philippine Coast Guard BRP Cabra's port side while it was lying approximately 6.4 nautical miles northeast of Ayungin Shoal.

"The RORE mission is still ongoing, with Unaiza May 1 reaching BRP Sierra Madre to successfully resupply our troops and personnel stationed there," the NTF-WPS said.

"Relevant authorities are briefed of the incident and developments in the ongoing RORE mission," it added.

The NTF-WPS said it "condemns in the strongest degree the latest dangerous, irresponsible, and illegal actions of the CCG and the Chinese maritime militia done this morning."

It stated that the Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction were "violated" by the conduct of the Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels.

It also described the recent incident as an "utter blatant disregard of the United Nations Charter, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and relevant international maritime conventions, and the 2016 Arbitral Award."

The Daily Tribune sought comments from the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Chinese Embassy in Manila about the developments in the West Philippine Sea, but they have yet to respond as of press time.