BFAR stands firm amid China harassment

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Saturday vowed to continue its marine research missions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) despite recent aggressive actions by the China Coast Guard (CCG).

In a news forum, BFAR spokesperson Nazario Briguera condemned the latest incident near Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay), part of the Kalayaan Island Group.

On 21 May, BFAR vessels BRP Datu Sanday and BRP Datu Pagbuaya were on a routine mission with a Filipino scientific team collecting sand samples on Sandy Cay when the CCG vessel 2159 fired a water cannon and sideswiped the Datu Sanday twice. This damaged the vessel’s port bow and smokestack, putting the lives of the civilian personnel at risk.

“This is not the first time that a BFAR vessel has been attacked, but as you know, we do not back down. The agency’s mission continues despite the irresponsible and violent actions of the China Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea,” Briguera told reporters in Filipino.

He said that despite the “aggressive, dangerous, and illegal” actions by the CCG and Chinese maritime militia, the BFAR scientific team successfully completed their work at Pag-asa Cays 1, 2 and 3.

Briguera emphasized that the incident took place within Philippine territorial waters, specifically around Pag-asa Island and Pag-asa Cay 2, both part of the Kalayaan Island Group.