The Philippines has expressed grave concern over the recent "aggressive actions and unlawful interference" of China Coast Guard against Philippine civilian public vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

In a statement, the National Maritime Council (NMC) said it was "deeply regrettable" that the Philippines' lawful and routine maritime operations were met with "coercive actions, unsafe conduct, and blatant disinformation."

"It is deeply regrettable that while the Philippines' lawful and routine maritime operations have not been provocative, these have been met by a pattern of coercive actions, unsafe conduct and blatant disinformation by Chinese maritime forces," the NMC said on Friday, May 23.

On May 21, the BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3002) and BRP Datu Pagbuaya (MMOV 3003) of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) were conducting a routine marine scientific research mission in the vicinity of Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay).

According to the NMC, the vessels were undertaking routine sampling and data collection operations in support of national programs on food security, fisheries management, and marine environmental protection.

"However, the DA-BFAR vessels were aggressively shadowed, blocked, water-cannoned, and sideswiped by CCG 21559, with CCG 5103 and two (2) maritime militia vessels as supporting units," NMC said.

The NMC stressed that the incident took place within the country's territorial sea in the area of Pag-asa Island and Pag-asa Cay 2, adding that the Philippines has longstanding sovereignty and jurisdiction over Pag-asa Island and all of its cays, which form part of the Philippines' Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea.

"As such, these deliberate acts of interference and intimidation seriously violate the sovereignty of the Philippines and constitute a grave violation of international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the relevant domestic laws," NMC pointed out.

"Appropriate diplomatic actions, multilateral cooperation, and maritime capacity-building will be undertaken and sustained to ensure the safety and effectiveness of Philippine maritime operations," it added.

The NMC also made an assurance that the Philippines remains committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes, but at the same time will continue to exercise its rights, protect its maritime interests, and uphold the mandates of its civilian agencies, like the DA-BFAR, in carrying out their responsibilities in our waters.

China has called the Philippines' maritime operation as "illegal activities around China's Zhubi Jiao and Tiexian Jiao," saying it was a violation of China's territorial sovereignty.

China said the Philippines was "fully responsible" for the incident.

It also urged the Philippines to cease such infringements immediately, claiming that the operation pushed through "without approval from the Chinese government."

It also accused the two Philippine official ships of illegally entering the waters off China's Zhubi Jiao and Tiexian Jiao on Wednesday, with some personnel unlawfully landing on Tiexian Jiao, according to Liu Dejun.

"CCG enforcement personnel have taken measures against the ships, landing on the reef to deal with the situation in a professional, standard, reasonable and legal manner," CCG spokesperson Liu Dejun said.

"However, one of the Philippine ships, ignoring multiple serious warnings from the Chinese side, dangerously approached a CCG ship conducting its duties, causing a bump between the two vessels. The Philippine side is fully responsible for the incident," Liu added.

Liu stated that China holds indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Qundao and the adjacent waters, adding that the Philippines' actions have severely infringed upon China's territorial sovereignty, violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and undermined peace and stability in the region.

"We urge the Philippine side to immediately cease such violations. The CCG will continue its law enforcement activities to legally safeguard China's sovereignty and rights in waters under the country's jurisdiction," Liu said.

United States Ambassador MayKay Carlson expressed support for the Philippines over the incident, calling out China for its aggressive actions, which, she said, have endangered lives and threaten regional stability.

"The China Coast Guard's aggressive actions against a lawful Philippine civilian mission near Sandy Cat recklessly endangered lives and threaten regional stability. We stand with our allied in support of international law and a free and open Indo Pacific," she said.

The New Zealand Embassy in the Philippines also conveyed concern over the incident, even labeling it as "troubling."

"Yesterday’s dangerous actions against Philippine scientific vessels near Sandy Cay are troubling. Use of water cannons and contact between vessels risks safety at sea. Peaceful resolution of maritime disputes in accordance with UNCLOS is fundamental to regional stability," the embassy said.

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu also expressed deep concerns over China's "dangerous actions."

"Australia shares the Philippines’ deep concerns at dangerous actions by China’s Coast Guard near Sandy Cay. Using water cannons and sideswiping civilian Philippine vessels endangers lives and harms regional stability. International law, particularly UNCLOS, must be respected," Yu said.

Canada also said it is alarmed by China’s latest dangerous actions in the South China Sea, including the use of water cannons and ramming a civilian BFAR vessel conducting marine scientific research near Sandy Cay.

"We strongly oppose China’s coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea, including near Sandy Cay," the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines stated.

The Embassy of the United Kingdom likewise condemned China's aggression, stressing that it was an action that risks lives.

"The UK condemns latest dangerous activity by the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippines civilian vessels near Sandy Cay today, risking lives and raising tensions. A worrying escalation of behaviour," UK Ambassador Laure Beaufils said.

"International law and the legally binding 2016 Arbitral Award must be respected," she added.