The Philippines on Sunday accused China of using a water cannon anew to obstruct the country's resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal, seriously damaging the engine of one of its ships in the process.
PCG spokesperson for the National Task Force in the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said the Chinese vessels engaged in "reckless and dangerous harassment at close range," including ramming a Philippine supply boat.
The incident happened during a Philippine resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre, a tiny garrison on Second Thomas or Ayungin Shoal in the Spratly Islands, a flashpoint for Manila and Beijing.
It came a day after the Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard of using water cannons to "obstruct" three Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, or BFAR, boats delivering provisions to Filipino fishermen near Scarborough Shoal, off the main island of Luzon.
"CCG vessel 5204 deployed a water cannon against the Philippine supply vessels, causing severe damage to M/L Kalayaan's engines, disabling the vessel and seriously endangering the lives of its crew," the NTF-WPS said.
The task force added that a Philippine Coast Guard vessel, the BRP Sindangan, was safely towing ML Kalayaan back to Ulugan Bay, Palawan, at press time.
Aside from the ML Kalayaan, the BRP Sabra also "suffered damage" to its mast after being directly targeted by the full strength of the water cannon of the CCG.
Continuing harassment
"The PCG vessels and the resupply boats Unaiza Mae 1 and ML Kalayaan were subjected to reckless and dangerous harassment at close range by CCG and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels on their approach to Ayungin Shoal," the NTF-WPS said.
The task force slammed Beijing's "disinformation," stressing that the UM1 was rammed by the CCG 21556. "Despite these extreme and reckless actions, UM1 successfully reached BRP Sierra Madre, and resupply is ongoing as of this writing," it said.
"We condemn, once again, China's latest unprovoked acts of coercion and dangerous maneuvers against a legitimate and routine Philippine rotation and resupply mission to Avungin Shoal that has put the lives of our people at risk," it added.
The China Coast Guard, however, accused the Philippine boat of "deliberately colliding" with the Chinese vessel after "disregarding our multiple stern warnings."
The Philippine boat "changed direction suddenly in an unprofessional, dangerous manner, deliberately colliding with our Coast Guard Vessel 21556, which was on a normal law enforcement route, and caused a scrape," the China Coast Guard said in a statement. "The responsibility lies entirely with the Philippine side," it said.
The NTF-WPS stressed that peace and stability cannot be achieved without due regard for the legitimate, well-established, and legally settled rights of others. "We demand that China demonstrate that it is a responsible and trustworthy member of the international community," it said.
Envoys sound off
Foreign ambassadors to the Philippines also condemned China's latest aggression in the WPS.
In separate posts on the social media site X (formerly Twitter), diplomats of the United States, European Union, Japan, South Korea, Australia and France expressed their concerns over the new water cannon incident in the WPS.
"The US stands with the Philippines and partners in vehemently condemning the PRC's (People's Republic of China) repeated illegal and dangerous actions against vessels, including disrupting the resupply mission to the Sierra Madre today," United States Ambassador MaryKay Carlson posted on X.
"PRC aggression undermines regional stability in defiance of a #FreeAndOpenIndo Pacific," Carlson added.
EU Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron described China's use of water cannon towards Philippine vessels as "another deeply troubling incident."
Veron reiterated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which China is a signatory party, has mechanisms to settle disputes and maintain the rule of law.
"The 2016 UNCLOS Tribunal Award is a valuable framework for peaceful resolution," he stressed, referring to the Permanent Court of Arbitration landmark ruling that rejected Beijing's historical claims in the WPS. "Water cannons and dangerous sea maneuvers aren't a legitimate alternative," he added.
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko said he was "gravely concerned about repeated dangerous actions by CCG vessels against Philippine vessels."
"Japan stands with the Philippines in support of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. Japan opposes actions that undermine the peace and stability in SCS," he added.
The Republic of Korea Embassy in the Philippines also expressed concern as it reaffirmed "strong support for peace, stability, and rules-based order in the South China Sea and for the freedom of navigation and overflight based on the principles of international law, including UNCLOS."
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu, likewise, denounced the "dangerous actions" of China towards Philippine vessels.
"Australia remains steadfast in support of UNCLOS and international law," Yu said. "China's further dangerous actions against Philippine vessels today, following yesterday's incident, again risk lives and livelihoods and are deeply concerning."
Meanwhile, Marie Fontanel, French Ambassador to the Philippines, reminded concerned parties about the 41st anniversary of the establishment of the UNCLOS.
"UNCLOS was signed exactly 41 years ago December 10th, 1982. Today more than ever France recalls the value of international law to ensure freedom of navigation and is, once again, seriously concerned by the use of water cannons in the Philippines' EEZ to prevent a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre," Fontanel said.
Christmas convoy
The latest incident occurred as about 40 Philippine vessels formed a Christmas convoy heading towards the contested shoal. More than 200 fishermen, youth leaders, and civil society organizations have participated in this initiative.
The latest incident also marked the second collision between Philippine and Chinese vessels since October near Second Thomas Shoal.
Filipino soldiers are stationed in the BRP Sierra Madre, deliberately grounded in 1999 to safeguard Manila's assertions in the contested waterway.
Tarriela said Ayungin Shoal is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, as confirmed by the UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
Avungin Shoal, he added, is a low-tide elevation that cannot be claimed as sovereign territory or appropriated under international law.
Saturday's attack by China, which the United States condemned, also saw its use of a long-range acoustic device that impaired the hearing of Filipinos in the targeted boats.
Relations between Manila and Beijing have deteriorated under President Ferdinand Marcos, who has sought to improve ties with traditional ally Washington and push back against Chinese actions in the South China Sea.
Marcos warned last month that the situation in the waters had become "more dire."
Last Sunday, the Philippines reported more than 135 Chinese vessels "swarming" a reef off its coast, describing the boats' growing presence as "alarming."
WITH AFP