China Coast Guard blasts water cannon at BFAR vessels, uses long range device

The National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea on Saturday confirmed that the China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia have once again exhibited aggressive actions against the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources' vessels on a mission in the Baje de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. 

The task force said it "vehemently condemned the illegal and aggressive actions" carried out by the CCG and CMM towards the BFAR's Datu Sanday, Datu Bankaw, and Datu Tamblot vessels, conducting a regular humanitarian and support mission of providing oil subsidy and grocery packs to over 30 Filipino fishing vessels near the area. 

"Based on the reports received, as the BFAR vessels approached 1.4 to 1.9 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc, the Chinese Coast Guard ships utilized water cannons to obstruct and prevent BFAR vessels from approaching the Filipino fishing vessels eagerly awaiting the oil subsidy and grocery packs," the NTF-WPS said in a statement. 

It added the water cannons had been used at least 8 times at the time of reporting as of 4 p.m. on Saturday. 

The CMM also engaged in "dangerous maneuvers and deployed what is understood to be a Long-range Acoustic Device (LRAD)" against the BFAR vessels. 

It noted that the dangerous maneuver has caused "severe temporary discomfort and incapacitation to some Filipino crew." 

The task force underscored that the water cannon action had resulted in significant damage to BFAR vessel Datu Tamblot's communication and navigation equipment. 

It added that the CCG "directly and deliberately targeted" the Datu Tamblot vessel. 

The Task Force likewise denounced the deployment of Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) "to disperse and drive away Filipino fishing vessels eagerly awaiting the distribution of fuel subsidies and food supplies from the BFAR ships." 

The NTF-WPS said preventing the distribution of humanitarian support "is not only illegal but also inhumane."