A marine scientific survey and sand sampling activity launched by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) at Sandy Cays near Pag-asa (Thitu) Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Friday, Jan. 24, was allegedly harassed by the Chinese coast guard and navy, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The PCG, which supported the mission, said BFAR vessels BRP Datu Pagbauya (MMOV-3003) and BRP Datu Bankaw (MMOV-3004) were on their way to Sandy Cays when they encountered aggressive maneuvers from China Coast Guard (CCG) ships “4106”, “5103”, and “4204” in blatant disregard of the 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs).
“Fortunately, the skilled seamanship of the BFAR crew prevented any potential accidents during these dangerous confrontations,” said Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for WPS.
However, the BFAR’s dilemma did not end there.
Tarriela said the CCG vessels then deployed four small boats to harass the BFAR rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) that were transporting its personnel to Sandy Cays.
As if that was not enough, the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) flew a military helicopter with tail number “24” and hovered dangerously close to the BFAR RHIBs and its personnel.
Tarriela said the actions made by the Chinese helicopter created a hazardous condition as the aircraft’s rotor blades caused a powerful downwash that destabilized the small BFAR boats.
“As a result of this continuous harassment and the disregard for safety exhibited by the Chinese maritime forces, BFAR and PCG have regrettably suspended their survey operations and were unable to collect sand samples at Sandy Cays,” Tarriela said.
The BFAR and PCG have been working together to conduct scientific surveys at Sandy Cays, a group of rocks or low reefs located about two nautical miles from Pag-asa Island, after the discovery of dead and crushed corals at Sandy Cay 2 in 2023.
During an expedition In March 2024, several Filipino scientists were hurt when a Chinese helicopter hovered above them at Sandy Cay. Two months later, the PCG bared that the coral reefs at Sandy Cays 1, 2, and 3 had already been damaged which resulted in the destruction of the marine life in the area.
The PCG suspected that the dumping of dead and crushed corals would pave the way for the reclamation of Sandy Cays by another nation, prompting them to guard the area against intruders.
Illegal presence in Zambales
Meanwhile, in Zambales, the PCG said it continues to vigilantly monitor the illegal presence of Chinese ships in the country’s waters.
Tarriela said CCG ship “3103” was pushed further away by PCG vessel BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) to a distance of 85 to 90 nautical miles from the coastline of Zambales, effectively preventing the latter from getting closer to the country’s territory.
The 77-by-10-meter CCG-3103 was replaced by a larger vessel, CCG-3304, which measures 111 meters long and 46 meters wide, likely to outmaneuver BRP Cabra, according to Tarriela.
However, the size did not materialize as it was still challenged by BRP Cabra.
“Despite the imposing size of the CCG-3304, the PCG vessel continued to carry out hourly radio challenges, effectively notifying the CCG of its illegal presence in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone,” Tarriela said.