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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DFA files new diplomatic protest vs China over water cannon attack

DFA files new diplomatic protest vs China over water cannon attack

Published Sep 18, 2025 05:37 pm
BRP Datu Gumbay Piang, a vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), during a humanitarian mission in Bajo de Masinloc on Sept. 16, 2025. (Photo from the Philippine Coast Guard)
BRP Datu Gumbay Piang, a vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), during a humanitarian mission in Bajo de Masinloc on Sept. 16, 2025. (Photo from the Philippine Coast Guard)
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has formally filed a diplomatic protest against China’s recent water cannoning of a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel at the Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc).

This was confirmed by DFA spokesman Angelica Escalona on Thursday, Sept. 18.

“Protest has been filed today,” a statement from the DFA said.

The New Zealand Embassy in Manila and Canadian Ambassador David Hartman also expressed their concerns over the latest incident.

“New Zealand is concerned by dangerous actions by Chinese vessels at Scarborough Shoal damaging Philippine vessels and injuring personnel,” the Embassy of New Zealand in the Philippines said in a statement.

“Such actions threaten lives and safety. We call for the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” it added.

Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman also expressed Canada’s concerns over China’s actions in the contested region.

“Canada strongly opposes China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea and calls on parties to respect UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” he wrote on X, referring to the arbitral victory that invalidated the basis of China’s nine-dash line claim on the majority of the maritime features of South China Sea.

“We are concerned by China’s dangerous use of water cannons at the Scarborough Shoal that injured a civilian @bfarph officer supporting Filipino fishers,” the envoy added.

Earlier, the ambassadors from the United States, Australia, Japan, and European Union condemned the latest water cannon incident near Bajo de Masinloc.

According to the National Maritime Council (NMC), BFAR vessel BRP Datu Gumbay Piang was carrying out the Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda (KBBM) program on Sept. 16 when it was subjected to dangerous maneuvers and sustained water cannon attacks by two CCG vessels—CCG 5201 and CCG 21562–and a China Maritime Militia vessel—CMM 00001.

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water cannon China DFA diplomatic protest Bajo de Masinloc
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