US condemns China’s latest West Philippine Sea aggression
A China Coast Guard ship rams a Philippine Coast Guard vessel in the West Philippine Sea on Saturday, August 31, 2024. (Photo courtesy of PCG)
MANILA, Philippines — The United States has condemned what it called “multiple dangerous violations of international law” by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) after the Chinese Coast Guard repeatedly rammed a Philippine Coast Gaurd (PCG) vessel in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal earlier Saturday.
“The U.S. condemns the multiple dangerous violations of international law by the PRC, including today’s intentional ramming of the BRP Teresa Magbanua while it was conducting lawful operations within the EEZ (exclusive economic zone),” United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“We stand with the Philippines in upholding international law,” she added.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG Spokesperson for the WPS said the ramming incident between CCG vessel 5205 and BRP Teresa Magbanwa (MRP 9701) — which has been deployed in the shoal since April 15 — occurred at around 12:07 p.m.
He said the CCG vessel 5205 carried out a dangerous maneuver resulting in the direct ramming of the port bow of the PCG vessel.
Article continues after this advertisementThe same Chinese ship later rammed the Philippine vessel — its starboard quarter, port bow again, and port beam.
Article continues after this advertisementAccording to Tarriela, the CCG rammed the BRP Teresa Magbanwa despite PCG’s “unprovoked action and presence in Escoda Shoal”
“The Philippine Coast Guard vessel did not provoke or did not do anything while we are loitering around Escoda Shoal. But the Chinese Coast Guard carried out dangerous maneuvers despite being unprovoked,” he explained.
The PCG vessel sustained damage to its bridge wing and freeboard. Part of the vessel also had a hole due to the collision.
Fortunately, Tarriela said personnel aboard the vessel did not sustain any injury.
Prior to this, a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3002) was hit by a CCG ship and water cannoned by seven others on August 25.
The CCG vessels were operating from Hasa-Hasa (Half-Moon) Shoal to Escoda Shoal.
On August 22, China used flares against Philippine aircraft from China-occupied Zamora (Subi) Reef. It targeted the BFAR’s Cessna 208B Grand Caravan plane.
The same BFAR plane also encountered flares during its patrol in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal last August 19.
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