Chinese Coast Guard harasses BFAR vessels near Pag-asa
A BFAR vessel was shot with a water cannon by a Chinese vessel in Pag-Asa Island on Sunday.
PCG
Chinese coast guard vessels rammed and fired water cannons at three Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ships near Pag‑Asa Island, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Monday.
“This is the closest the Chinese Coast Guard has harassed and bullied BFAR vessels,” PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a press conference.
Six BFAR vessels were present in the waters under deployment for the “Kadiwa ng Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda” (KBBM) program, which is made to ensure the safety and livelihood of the Filipino fishermen in the area.
According to Tarriela, the Chinese ships fired the water cannons during the program but three different times.
The water cannon blasts from a CCG 21559 struck BRP Datu Bankaw and BRP Datu Pagbuaya on separate occasions.
Additionally, BRP Datu Daya was also rammed at and fired by CCG 23519.
Aside from the two mentioned Chinese ships, three more were seen within the waters of Pag‑Asa Island — 5102, 5009 and 3305.
Fifteen Chinese maritime militia vessels were also observed around the vicinity.
As China started to utilize water cannons in the attack last year, this incident is considered to be the second time that they Filipinos used the cannons.