The China Coast Guard (CCG) allegedly deployed water cannons against Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels on Saturday as they were en route to Ayungin Shoal for a resupply mission at the BRP Sierra Madre.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chartered the indigenous boats in question to transport fuel, food, water, and other supplies to military personnel stationed on BRP Sierra Madre. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) denounced CCG's "dangerous maneuvers and îllégâl use of water cannons" against their vessels.
“The PCG calls on the China Coast Guard to restrain its forces, respect the sovereign rights of the Philippines in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, refrain from hampering freedom of navigation, and take appropriate actions against the individuals involved in this unlawful incident,” PCG Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said.
The PCG emphasized that the CCG's action not only ignored the safety of the PCG crew and the supply boats but also broke several international laws, including the 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
Ayungin Shoal is a member of the Kalayaan Island Group, which is a fundamental component of the Philippines. It is also a part of the country's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, over which it has sovereign authority.
"We request that China Coast Guard discontinue all îllégâl actions within the maritime zones of the Philippines," Tarriela continued. "We ask that China Coast Guard, as an agency with a responsibility to observe state duties under UNCLOS, COLREGs, and other relevant instruments of international maritime safety and security.
Nevertheless, the CCG said in a statement it had implemented "necessary controls" against Philippines boats that had "illegally" entered its seas on Sunday.
In an Agence France-Presse report, China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu stated that "two repair ships and two coast guard ships from the Philippines illegally broke into the waters... in China's Nansha Islands," adding that Beijing had "implemented necessary controls in accordance with the law and stopped Philippine ships carrying îllégâl building materials."
What do you think guys?
Tapos gusto nila joint military exercise??
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