Unlike China, PCG water cannons not ‘offensive weapon’ vs other vessels — Tarriela

Lade Jean Kabagani·11 December 2023, 3:22 pm·1 min read

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Unlike China, PCG water cannons not ‘offensive weapon’ vs other vessels — Tarriela — This striking image captured from video footage released by the Philippine Coast Guard via AFPTV on 9 December vividly shows a Chinese Coast Guard ship engaging in a confrontational act, utilizing a water cannon against a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel near Scarborough Shoal in the contentious South China Sea. The Philippines has vehemently accused the Chinese coast guard of employing water cannons to "impede" three government boats as they sought to provide essential supplies to Filipino fishermen near a China-controlled in South China Sea. | PCG/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

All of the vessels operated by the Philippine Coast Guard have water cannons but these are not meant to be used as "offensive weapons" to damage other vessels, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela, emphasized on Monday.

"All of our coast guard vessels have water cannon. But let me stress the fact, that for the Philippine Coast Guard, we believe that the water cannons that are placed on our vessels are intended for us to carry out our duty in combating fire at sea," Tarriela said during a Palace press briefing.

"This is not something we consider as an offensive weapon to damage any other vessel. We don't. We believe that if we are going to be consistent with that kind of behavior as a Coast Guard organization — we don't have to go down to the level of the Chinese Coast Guard by using their water cannon as an offensive weapon that would damage other vessels," he added.

China's aggressive actions "don't conform with the regional standard of promoting safety," he stressed.

Asked if PCG can make a counter-water cannon blast against the CCG, Tarriela said: "We choose to maintain our moral high ground. You know if you choose to do that kind of barbaric attack to prevent the Philippine Coast Guard or the Armed Forces of the Philippines from completing their supply operation — then, let them be so."

"For the Philippine Coast Guard, using a water cannon to respond to such an attack is something that we will not do. Secondly, we abide by the guidance of the President that we don't have to do anything stupid to escalate the tension," he added.