(UPDATED)
A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship blasted water cannon at Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels that were delivering supplies to fisherfolk communities in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough/Panatag Shoal) on Saturday, Dec. 9, the latest in a string of aggressive incidents shown by Chinese vessels within the Philippine waters.
BFAR vessel BRP Datu Bankaw (MMOV-3004), a 30-meter multi-mission offshore patrol vessel, was accompanied by BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV-3002) and BRP Datu Tamblot (MMOV-3005) on a resupply mission in Bajo de Masinloc when it was blocked by 99-meter CCG vessel 3305 and at least four 60-meter Chinese maritime militia vessels, according to maritime expert Ray Powell, director of SeaLight project at Stanford University's Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation.
BFAR said their vessels were supposed to hand out free oil, food, and other supplies to fisherfolk communities living in Bajo de Masinloc when the Chinese vessels issued radio challenges and warned the Filipino vessels to go away as they claimed ownership of the waters.
However, the Filipino crew refused to leave and insisted to bring the supplies to the fishermen. They also told the Chinese crew that the operation was lawfully carried out within the territory of the Philippines as Bajo de Masinloc is located within Manila's 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
At the height of the confrontation, CCG 3305 allegedly directed its water cannon at BRP Datu Bankaw and fired blasts of water to drive the Philippine vessel away. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. and lasted for three hours.
After this, the CCG vessel again allegedly directed its water cannon at BRP Datu Sanday and fired shoots of water at the vessel around 1 p.m.
For its part, the CCG said in a statement that it only took "control measures" in accordance with their laws as the Philippine vessels "intruded" into the waters adjacent to Huangyan Island -- the Chinese name they gave to Bajo de Masinloc. The statement was cited by Chinese newspaper People's Daily China on its X (formerly Twitter) account.
According to BFAR, this was the first time that Chinese ships directly fired a water cannon at their vessels as the foreign ships only used to shadow or tail them when they were conducting resupply missions. It said this has been the "most aggressive" action done by the CCG towards BFAR vessels during a supply run.
In 2014 and 2015, there had been recorded incidents where Chinese vessels fired water cannon at Filipino fishermen to block them from accessing the area.
The entry to the lagoon of Bajo de Masinloc is heavily guarded by Chinese coast guard, navy, and maritime militia vessels after a standoff between the Philippine Navy and Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in 2012 resulted to the area being "seized" by the Chinese government.
In October, a Philippine Navy gunboat was confronted by Chinese vessels while making routine patrols in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc.
Meanwhile, Chinese vessels installed a floating barrier at the entry of Bajo de Masinloc in September to block Filipino fishermen from conducting fishing expeditions in the area but it was removed by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
A 2016 arbitral ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands affirmed that Bajo de Masinloc is a traditional fishing ground of Filipino fishermen. The ruling is not recognized by China.
The incident coincided with a Christmas convoy launched by a civilian coalition in the West Philippine Sea.
NTF-WPS speaks up
The National Task Force for West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), which includes the PCG and AFP, "vehemently condemned" the water cannon attack, which it called as "illegal and aggressive actions" carried out by the CCG and Chinese maritime militia against the civilian BFAR vessels.
NTF-WPS spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said the BFAR was only doing a humanitarian and support mission as they provided oil subsidy and grocery packs to over 30 Filipino fishing vessels near Bajo de Masinloc so there was no reason for the Chinese vessels to harass them.
"Based on the reports received, as the BFAR vessels approached 1.4 to 1.9 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc, the Chinese Coast Guard ships utilized water cannons to obstruct and prevent BFAR vessels from approaching the Filipino fishing vessels eagerly awaiting the oil subsidy and grocery packs. The water cannons had been used at least eight times at the time of reporting," Malaya said.
"Additionally, the Chinese Maritime Militia vessels are reported to have engaged in dangerous maneuvers and deployed what is understood to be a Long-range Acoustic Device (LRAD) against the BFAR vessels – causing severe temporary discomfort and incapacitation to some Filipino crew. Water cannon action have resulted in significant damage to BFAR vessel Datu Tamblot’s communication and navigation equipment as it was directly and deliberately targeted by the China Coast Guard," he added.
The task force also denounced the deployment of Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) by Chinese vessels to disperse and drive away Filipino fishing vessels eagerly awaiting the distribution of fuel subsidies and food supplies from the BFAR ships.
"To prevent the distribution of humanitarian support is not only illegal but also inhumane," Malaya stressed.
The NTF-WPS also revealed that a floating barrier was again installed by a small boat from the CCG at the southeast entrance of Bajo de Masinloc early Saturday morning.
The task force said Filipino fishermen saw the Chinese boat putting up the barrier to block them from fishing and hinder the BFAR vessels from accessing the area.
The NTF-WPS demanded that the Chinese government should take immediate action to halt the aggressive activities committed by their vessels, uphold the principles of international law, and "desist from actions that would infringe on Philippine Sovereignty and endanger the lives and livelihood of Filipino fishermen who have traditionally fished in the area."
"China’s illegal exercise of maritime law enforcement powers, interference with Philippine vessels, harassment and intimidation of Filipino fisherfolk, or any other activity that infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereignty and jurisdiction in Bajo de Masinloc are violations of international law, particularly UNCLOS [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea] and the Arbitral Award. We firmly insist that these Chinese vessels leave Bajo de Masinloc immediately," Malaya said.