The Philippines is casting doubt on China’s promise to de-escalate tension in the West Philippine Sea after the latest ramming and water cannon incidents near Escoda Shoal.
On August 26, the National Maritime Council (NMC) issued a strong statement condemning the “repeated aggressive, unprofessional, and illegal actions” by Chinese maritime forces against Philippine vessels and aircraft over the past week.
“These provocative and dangerous actions, occurring in the span of just one week, are alarming and call into question China’s supposed commitment to de-escalate the situation and create a conducive environment for dialogue and consultation,” the NMC said.
The council emphasized that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) was operating lawfully within its mandate and accused China of deliberately harassing and intimidating Philippine operations. These actions, the council added, endangered Filipino lives and violated international law.
The NMC reiterated that China’s ongoing illegal activities reflect a blatant disregard for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award, which invalidated China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea.
The Philippines vowed to continue asserting its sovereign rights and expose violations by Chinese vessels and aircraft in Philippine waters.
“The Philippines will never waver in exercising its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction, and defending its maritime and archipelagic interests consistent with international law,” the NMC asserted.
The government also reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing diplomatic solutions to the ongoing maritime disputes and urged China to return to constructive dialogue over the West Philippine Sea.
In addition to the recent ramming incident, a BFAR aircraft encountered Chinese flares three times last week while operating near Zamora Reef.
China Coast Guard ship that rammed BFAR vessel Datu Sanday.
Chinese ships ram and blast water at Philippine vessel
On August 25, the BFAR vessel BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3002) faced aggressive maneuvers by eight Chinese maritime vessels while operating between Hasa-Hasa Shoal and Escoda Shoal.
“The actions of the Chinese vessels were aimed at obstructing the BFAR vessel’s humanitarian mission to resupply Filipino fishermen with diesel, food, and medical supplies,” BFAR said in a statement.
BFAR reported that the BRP Datu Sanday was targeted by the People’s Liberation Army Navy 626 and multiple China Coast Guard (CCG) ships, which attempted to encircle and block its mission.
According to BFAR, the CCG vessels deployed water cannons, blasted their horns, and conducted perilous maneuvers that eventually caused engine failure on the BRP Datu Sanday, forcing it to end its operation early.
“These unprofessional, aggressive, and illegal actions posed serious risks to the safety of the Filipino crew and the fishermen they were meant to serve,” BFAR said. Despite the incident, BFAR confirmed that its crew remained safe and in high spirits.
The agency also refuted claims that its personnel fell overboard and were rescued by the CCG, labeling the report as disinformation meant to distort the truth.
“This misinformation serves as a clear illustration of the PRC’s willingness to distort the truth and engage in disinformation to bolster its public image,” BFAR stated.
Hasa-Hasa (Half-Moon) Shoal lies around 60 nautical miles from Rizal, Palawan, while Escoda (Sabina) Shoal is approximately 110 nautical miles away—both well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The Philippine government called on China to cease its provocative actions, which undermine regional peace and stability. “The Philippines remains steadfast in asserting its rights in accordance with UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” BFAR affirmed.
Military leads FA-50PH flares test over West Philippine Sea
Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. called the incident an escalation of Beijing’s aggressive behavior. Brawner recently led the military’s flare testing over the West Philippine Sea amid escalating tensions in the area.
During a media interview on August 26, Brawner revealed that he participated in the flare test while on board an FA-50PH fighter jet. “We have flares. In fact, last Friday, I was on board an FA-50 jet, and we patrolled the West Philippine Sea and tested the flares,” Brawner told reporters.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea confirmed on August 24 that China launched flares from its militarized island at Zamora Reef during a BFAR maritime domain awareness flight on August 22.
The patrol was conducted within the country’s EEZ and territorial waters in the Kalayaan Island Group.
The task force also reported that a similar BFAR flight near Scarborough Shoal on August 19 was harassed by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force.
All photos credit: Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela
Top photo: China Coast Guard ship rammed BFAR vessel Datu Sanday, which was en route to Escoda Shoal.
