Tarriela slams CCG's 'maximum restraint' claim after recent WPS clash

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Jay Tarriela condemned the China Coast Guard's (CCG) statement saying its crew exercised maximum restraint and acted according to laws and regulations after the recent clash between the two groups.

The clash happened at Second Thomas Shoal on Sunday, 20 July, where a Philippine Navy personnel suffered a head wound after a CCG crew member struck him with a baton.

According to the report, the confrontation happened after a Chinese boat carrying eight men was spotted circling the BRP Sierra Madre while taking photographs of the vessel.

Following this, the CCG called on the Philippines to urgently stop the "infringements and provocations" and claimed that its personnel were "aggressively harassed."

In response, Tarriela fired back, saying there was no "infringement" because Ayungin Shoal is within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

"We cannot infringe on our own maritime zone. The only infringement on July 20 was committed by the China Coast Guard, operating over 600 nautical miles from Hainan, inside Philippine waters," he said.

"The CCG boat disregarded instructions, and in the ensuing commotion, a barbaric Chinese crew member struck a Filipino sailor on the head with a wooden baton, inflicting an open wound. That is not 'maximum restraint.' That is an assault on Philippine personnel aboard and around a Philippine naval vessel, in the Philippine EEZ," Tarriela argued.

The spokesperson further said that the recent incident is part of a familiar pattern of illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive behavior that China has employed over the years.

"Calling that a 'provocation' is like a burglar accusing the homeowner of harassment," he said.