MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Sindangan accidentally hit a China Coast Guard ship that blocked its path on Saturday.
According to Philippine reporters on the scene, the Philippine Coast Guard said the CCG boat 4103 chased the Philippine vessel and blocked its path to prevent it from catching up with the resupply boat Unaizah May 4.
The PCG vessel accidentally hit the Chinese ship because of the latter’s speed.
A video clip showed the hole suffered by the Chinese vessel.
Another footage showed how BRP Sindanagan and BRP Cabra were surrounded by boats of China’s coast guard and the maritime militia.
The Philippines rebuked China over its latest acts off Ayungin Shoal that severely damaged a Filipino resupply boat on its way to resupply troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre on Saturday morning.
The crew members of Unaizah May 4 (UM4) were also injured after China Coast Guard (CCG) directed water cannons against the resupply boat.
“The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) latest acts of unprovoked aggression, coercion, and dangerous maneuvers against a legitimate and routine Philippine RoRe (routine rotation and resupply) mission to Ayungin Shoal, have once again placed at risk, caused severe damage to property, and caused physical harm to Filipinos on board UM4,” the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said in a statement.
“The systematic and consistent manner in which the PRC continues to carry out these illegal and irresponsible actions belies its hollow claims to peace, dialogue, and adherence to international law.”
National Security Adviser and NTF-WPS Chairperson Eduardo Año will meet with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and the National Security Cluster on March 25 to craft recommendations that will be submitted to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
The NTF-WPS said the Philippines will continue to “act peacefully and responsibly,” consistent with international laws, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the legally binding 2016 Arbitral Award.
It said the Philippines will remain undeterred neither by “veiled threats or hostility” from exercising its rights over its maritime zones, including the Ayungin Shoal.
“Peace and stability cannot be achieved without due regard for the legitimate, well-established, and legally settled rights of others,” the task force said.
“We demand that China demonstrate in deeds and not in words that it is a responsible and trustworthy member of the international community,” it added.
