NSC: Water cannon attacks not ‘act of war,’ but part of China’s ‘cat-and-mouse’ game

The National Security Council on Monday said that China's successive water cannon attacks against Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea are not yet an "act of war."

In a press briefing, NSC spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said China's attacks are just a "display of their desire to escalate tensions" in Philippine waters they also claim as "theirs."

"I think the whole world has seen the incidents in the past two days as a serious escalation on the part of the People's Republic of China, because what we have been doing has been standard operating procedure. We're not doing anything different, we always do this humanitarian and supply mission in Bajo de Masinloc in support of our fishermen," Malaya said. 

He noted that the Philippines is lawfully conducting regular rotation and resupply missions to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal as part of the country's responsibility to protect its sovereign rights and exclusive economic zone. 

"The actions they have shown in the past few days really have shown a desire on their part to escalate the situation," he lamented. 

Malaya noted that China's dangerous maneuvers have posed "significant damage to Philippine vessels in terms of navigation equipment, in terms of communication equipment and in terms of the engine of ML Kalayaan."

The China Coast Guard on Sunday fired a water cannon and used a "long-range acoustic device" that caused the Filipino crew to experience "severe temporary discomfort and incapacitation" while sailing in the Bajo de Masinloc area.

It was followed by another CCG water cannon attack and the ramming of the country's RoRe boats en route to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal on Sunday. Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. was onboard one of the country's vessels when China's attack happened.

China also exhibited dangerous maneuvers against a Christmas civilian convoy delivering gifts and donations to fishermen and residents in the WPS. 

"We are taking this very seriously, but if this is an act of war? We don't think so. This is just part of the cat-and-mouse game that China seems to be utilizing to further its own interests. On the part of the Philippines, we have repeatedly said and we will continue to conduct this mission in support of our troops and fishermen wherever they may be in the West Philippine Sea," Malaya said.

Asked how they see China's attack given the military chief's presence during the mission, AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said "It is a regular RoRe mission for us." 

In an interview, Brawner said he was in disguise when he joined the RoRe mission to Ayungin Shoal on Sunday.