A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel fired a water cannon against a ship of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
This was confirmed by Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson for WPS, Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, who also expressed support for the BFAR and vowed to work with the civilian agency to ensure their safety while conducting operations in the troubled waters.
“We were informed of a water cannon incident in Bajo de Masinloc by the Chinese Coast Guard vessel towards a BFAR vessel,” Trinidad said.
Details of the incident, however, were not divulged by the PN official as he deferred to the BFAR to make the official announcement.
According to reports, the BFAR ship was supposed to distribute fuel and other necessary supplies to fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc when it was attacked by the CCG ship.
Bajo de Masinloc is located 124 nautical miles from Masinloc, Zambales which is within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone of the Philippines - that means Filipinos have the sovereign rights to explore and exploit its natural resources. China, however, claims the shoal as part of their territory.
Trinidad said the navy will do its part to uphold the country’s territorial integrity by sustaining its patrol operations despite Chinese intimidation.
Meanwhile, the number of Chinese vessels which operated in the WPS increased to 190 based on the week-long monitoring of the PN from Oct. 1 to 7.
This was bigger compared to the 178 Chinese vessels spotted by the PN during the preceding week (Sept. 24 to 30).
Trinidad said that 28 of those vessels were in Escoda or Sabina Shoal, Bajo de Masinloc, and Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.
“We do not control what they do [China] in the West Philippine Sea. What is important is magpapatuloy ang inyong AFP sa pagperform ng kanyang mandato (the AFP will continue to perform its mandate) to ensure that the territory is intact, our sovereignty and sovereign rights are protected,” he said.