National Maritime Council questions China’s commitment to ease tension

CHINA ATTACKS China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 4202 drenches the BRP Datu Sanday with its water cannon blasts, which at times threaten to break the windows of the vessel run by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), while CCG ship 21551 takes its turn ramming the BFAR ship during the attack by China’s vessels at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal on Sunday. —PHOTOS AND VIDEO SCREENGRABS BY NESTOR CORRALES

MANILA, Philippines — The National Maritime Council (NMC) on Monday said China’s “provocative and dangerous” actions in the West Philippine Sea “in span of a week” cast doubt on its sincerity on deescalating tensions.

“The Philippine Government deplores the repeated aggressive, unprofessional and illegal actions displayed by Chinese maritime forces against Philippine vessels and aircraft over the past week,” the NMC said in a statement.

“That these provocative and dangerous actions were made in the space of only a week is alarming, and calls into question China’s supposed commitment to de-escalate the situation in the area and create a conducive environment for dialogue and consultation,” it added.

A number of incidents occurred in the West Philippine Sea since last week.

This, despite the recent Bilateral Consultation Mechanism between Manila and Beijing made to deescalate the tensions in the West Philippine Sea after the violent June 17 situation in Ayungin Shoal which led to what the Philippine military deem as “looting” of its disassembled high-powered guns and even caused the thumb amputation of one of its naval personnel.

Dangerous maneuvers, cannon, flares

For the past week alone, China used what the government deem as dangerous maneuvers, as well as water cannons and even flares to harass Philippine ships and aircraft.

The latest incident occurred on Monday, when two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ships were blocked on Monday by several China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels during the resupply mission in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

This comes after the incident on Sunday (Aug. 25) when CCG vessels blasted water cannons against a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel in the same shoal.

Escoda Shoal also saw last Aug. 19 what Manila called “unlawful and aggressive maneuvers” from CCG ships against 2 PCG vessels, causing damages to both of them.

On August 22, flares were fired from China-occupied Zamora (Subi) Reef and targeted BFAR’s Cessna 208B Grand Caravan plane. The same BFAR plane also encountered flares during its patrol in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal last August 19.

The NMC said the Philippines remain “uncowed.”

“The Philippines will continue to stand firm in the conduct of its lawful operations and expose the illegal presence and violations of Chinese vessels and aircraft within the Philippines’ maritime zones,” the NMC said.

Expected

It is now for the NMC to decide as to the next step after the incident, according to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

Teodoro also said that such behavior from China is “expected” as the country continues to assert its rights in the West Philippine Sea.

READ: Flare shots among Chinese harassments in a week

“We expect this kind of behaviour from China,” Teodoro said in an ambush interview in Taguig.  “We have to be ready.”

The Defense chief also shot down speculations if the recent incidents could invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty between Manila and Washington, which calls for each other’s defense in case of an armed attack.

“You know that is putting the cart before the horse; let us deter an armed attack,” Teodoro said. “That is the more important thing here, that is what I am focused on doing.”

“Everybody is focused on ‘armed attack’,” he continued. “Let us make ourselves strong enough so that doesn’t happen.”