Woman skipper keeps China ‘bullying’ off Scarborough at bay – PCG

Chinese Coast Guard vessel moving dangerously close to the PCG patrol ship. (Photo courtesy of PCG)

MANILA, Philippines — Led by female skipper Lieutenant Commander Hanna Yanez, the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) BRP Cabra continues to challenge the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) presence off Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said that BRP Cabra and CCG ship with bow number 21612 had a Monday encounter off 36.35 nautical miles south of Scarborough Shoal.

“The Chinese Coast Guard increased its speed and maneuvered past the port side of the BRP Cabra, dangerously blocking its navigation route,” Tarriela said in a statement

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‘Bullying’ no match to lawful moves

Despite what Tarriela called “bullying tactics,” he said the BRP Cabra, under the command of Yanez, is empowered to continue its patrol, which is in accordance with local and international law.

“This confidence allows the BRP Cabra to challenge the China Coast Guard, thereby exposing their unruly behavior and bullying tactics to the international community,” Tarriela said.

Tarriela said the PCG conducted its patrol in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS, the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

The 2016 arbitral award was made as the country brought China before an international tribunal in 2013, or a year after Manila’s tense standoff with Beijing over Scarborough Shoal.

This historic award ruled in favor of Manila while effectively invalidating Beijing’s assertion of sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea.

While BRP Cabra’s actions are backed by local and international law, Tarriela said CCG-21612’s latest moves flout the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and “reflect a blatant disregard for safety at sea.”

Coast Guards are typically recognized as enforcers of maritime safety and humanitarian organizations, but Tarriela said Beijing’s actions “diverge from these norms.”

BRP Cabra’s ‘superior maneuverability’

PCG first reported the presence of CCG-21612 on April 7.

Tarriela noted that the “smaller and faster” vessel was then deployed to match BRP Cabra’s “superior maneuverability.”

During this latest encounter, CCG-21612 “increased its speed and maneuvered past the port side of the BRP Cabra, dangerously blocking its navigation route.”

“Their illegal patrols jeopardize the lives of fishermen and legitimate law enforcement agencies alike,” Tarriela said.