PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan stressed that the BFAR vessel was manned by unarmed civilian personnel supporting Filipino fishermen.
A screengrab shows China Coast Guard vessel CCG-21585 ramming the BRP Datu Magat Salamat during a Friday encounter at sea.
screengrab from pcg video/fb
The United States, Canada and the European Union condemned the China Coast Guard’s latest confrontation with a civilian-manned Philippine fisheries vessel in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), after a Chinese vessel collided with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship off Palawan on 18 September.
Canada said it was concerned by what it described as the China Coast Guard deliberately ramming the BFAR vessel, warning that such maneuvers jeopardize regional peace and stability.
US Ambassador Lee Lipton said Washington “strongly condemns” the incident and commended the Filipino crew for its “sustained professionalism.”
EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro also expressed concern, saying dangerous maneuvers at sea endanger lives and stressing the importance of international maritime law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
The National Maritime Council said the Chinese vessel’s actions placed the civilian crew at unnecessary risk while they were carrying out a legitimate mission to support Filipino fishermen.
The Philippine Coast Guard said China Coast Guard vessel CCG-21585 had shadowed BFAR vessel BRP Datu Magat Salamat (MMOV-3015) before making repeated close maneuvers.
At about 11:13 a.m., the Chinese vessel made contact with the BFAR ship about 6.36 nautical miles north-northwest of Abad Santos (Bombay) Shoal, about 54 nautical miles from Palawan and within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The collision damaged the BFAR vessel’s starboard-side railings, metal stanchions and support structures and displaced deck equipment. No injuries were reported.
PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan stressed that the BFAR vessel was manned by unarmed civilian personnel supporting Filipino fishermen.
“So, it is unfortunate to see a public vessel treated like that by the China Coast Guard,” Gavan said.
Sen. JV Ejercito also condemned the incident.
“This is really disrespectful of our sovereignty, and there is really no respect at all, right?” Ejercito said during the Department of Transportation budget hearing at the Senate on Friday.
China disputed Manila’s account, saying the Philippine vessel caused the collision.
The Department of Foreign Affairs cited the Philippines’ rights and obligations under UNCLOS, the 2016 Arbitral Award, COLREGS and SOLAS.
Civic group leader Jose Antonio Goitia said the incident should not deter the Philippines from exercising its maritime rights.
“The Philippines does not seek confrontation, but neither can intimidation determine where our government can lawfully operate. We must remain disciplined and professional while standing firmly on our rights under international law,” Goitia said.
