PCG slams ‘intentional ramming’ by CCG in WPS

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) slammed the series of aggressive maneuvers, including “intentional” ramming and water cannon attacks by the multiple vessels of the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese maritime militia near Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

In a press conference on Monday, PCG spokesperson for the WPS, Commodore Jay Tarriela, detailed a series of “hostile actions” by Chinese forces within Philippine territorial waters, just 1.6 to 1.8 nautical miles from Pagasa Island, which is part of the Kalayaan Island Group in Palawan.

At least three vessels from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), namely BRP Datu Pagbawaya, BRP Datu Bankaw, and BRP Datu Daya,  were targeted by water cannons deployed by CCG vessel 21559.

According to Tarriela, the most serious incident occurred at 8:50 a.m. on Sunday, when Datu Pagbuaya was directly hit by a high-pressure water cannon. Shortly after, the same vessel was intentionally rammed by CCG 21559, causing visible damage to its aft section.

“There is also the drone video. You can see from this video that it was really intentional on the part of the Chinese Coast Guard 21559 to directly ram the BFAR vessel Datu Pagbuwaya,” Tarriela said. 

“But because of the seamanship skill of the commanding officer of Datu Pagbuaya, we were able to let go of that ramming that is being conducted by China Coast Guard 21559,” he added.

Tarriela confirmed that the BRP Datu Pagbuaya sustained the most significant damage due to the ramming incident. 

“So all in all, there were three BFAR vessels that were subjected to water cannon by the China Coast Guard 21559. But it was only Datu Pagbuaya which was directly hit and had significant impact caused by the water cannon and ramming,” he said. 

The PCG also monitored the Beijing's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy 533 launched its PLA helicopter with tail number 51 during the confrontation.

“And it just flew over the BFAR vessels. Although it maintained a safe altitude, but we just documented that the PLA Navy vessel and its helicopter flew over the territorial airspace of Pagasa Island,” he said.