Chinese Coast Guard Rams Philippine Vessel in South China Sea Escalating Territorial Tensions

The Chinese coast guard accused the Philippine vessels of illegally entering Chinese waters. (File)

Manila:

On Sunday, a Chinese coast guard ship employed a powerful water cannon and subsequently rammed a stationary Philippine government vessel near an island inhabited by Filipinos in the contested South China Sea, causing slight damage, according to the Philippine coast guard.

No injuries were reported among the Filipino crew members of the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, a fisheries fleet vessel that provides support to Filipino fishermen. The Chinese coast guard targeted Pagbuaya off the Philippines-occupied Thitu island in the most recent escalation of the ongoing territorial disputes involving Manila, Beijing, and four other governments.

The Chinese coast guard claimed that the Philippine vessels illegally entered what they consider Chinese waters near Sandy Cay, a cluster of sandbars situated between Thitu and China's artificial island base called Subi, and "ignoring repeated stern warnings from the Chinese side." They stated they "took control measures against the Philippine vessels in accordance with the law and resolutely drove them away."

China has consistently asserted its sovereignty and control over virtually the entire South China Sea, a crucial trade route, despite a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated its historic claims. China has rejected this ruling, which is supported by the United States and its Western and Asian allies, including Japan, Australia, the European Union, and Canada.

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The US immediately condemned "China's aggressive actions in defiance of international law" and expressed support for the Philippines, a close Asian treaty ally. US Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson commended the Filipino personnel involved in the incident for their "tremendous valor and skill in the face of China's dangerous ramming and use of water cannons."

The Pagbuaya and two other Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessels were anchored in the territorial waters off Thitu, known as Pag-asa by the Philippines, when Chinese coast guard and suspected militia ships suddenly approached and conducted "dangerous and provocative maneuvers," according to Philippine coast guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela. He emphasized that such aggression would not compel Manila to "surrender a square inch of our territory to any foreign power."

A Chinese coast guard ship with bow number 21559 "fired its water cannon directly at the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, hitting the vessel," and then rammed the stern of the Philippine fisheries vessel three minutes later, causing "minor structural damage but no injuries to the crew."

Video released by the Philippine coast guard shows a Chinese coast guard ship firing a water cannon, hitting the vessel and its two Philippine flags. The Filipino-manned ship is seen moving away from the Chinese coast guard ship.

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"Despite these bullying tactics and aggressive actions, the Philippine coast guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources remain resolute," Tarriela stated. "We will not be intimidated or driven away."

In Beijing, Chinese coast guard spokesperson Liu Dejun said in a statement that the two Philippine vessels illegally entered waters near Sandy Cay, which China refers to as Tiexian Reef, "without the permission of the Chinese government." One dangerously approached the Chinese Coast Guard vessel, causing a scrape, he claimed.

The responsibility rests entirely with the Philippine side, Liu stated, accusing the Philippines of undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea and "sternly warned" the Southeast Asian country "to immediately stop infringement and harassment."

"The harassment we faced today only strengthens our resolve," Philippine coast guard commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan declared. "Filipino fisherfolk depend on these waters and neither water cannons nor ramming will deter us from fulfilling our commitment to Pres. Ferdinand Marcos to not surrender a square inch of our territory to any foreign power."

Thitu is the largest of nine islands, islets, and reefs inhabited by Philippine forces and also hosts a fishing community in the Spratlys archipelago, the most intensely disputed region of the South China Sea. China has transformed seven barren reefs into island bases protected by missile systems. Three of these artificial islands have runways, including Subi, which is located just over 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Thitu, which China also claims.