The National Task Force West Philipine Sea (NTFWPS) has confirmed that the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) obstructed and blasted water cannon against the vessels of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) during its regular resupply mission in the WPS on Saturday, Dec. 9.
JUST IN: National Task Force West Philippine Sea, kinumpirma ang panibagong insidente ng pambobomba ng tubig ng Chinese Coast Guard sa mga barko ng bansa sa West Philippine Sea | @dzrhnews
— Christian Maño (@xtian_mano) December 9, 2023
🎥: @coastguardph pic.twitter.com/St1wNthIJT
"The National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTFWPS) vehemently condemns the illegal and aggresive actions carried out by the Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia against the civilian Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels Datu Sanday, Datu Bankaw, and Datu Tamblot today," the NTFWPS said in a statement issued on Saturday noon.
The BFAR vessels were said to be carrying oil subsidy and grocery packs to over 30 Filipino fishing vessels near Bajo de Masinloc as part of BFAR's humanitarian and support mission.
Based on the report, the NTFWPS said that the CCG vessels used water cannons when BFAR vessels were located 1.4 to 1.9 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc, obstructing them and preventing the vessels from approaching.
Aside from this, the Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) was also reported to have engaged in dangerous maneuvers and deployed a "long-range acoustic device (LRAD)", causing "severe temporary discomfort and incapacitation to some Filipino crew."
The utilization of the water cannon resulted in significant damage to the communication and navigation equipment of the BFAR vessel Datu Tamblot, as it was directly targeted by the CCG.
NTFWPS also reported that the CCG was illegally installing a floating barrier at the southest of Bajo de Masinloc early in the morning on Saturday, which hindered the BFAR vessels from entering the Shoal.
"We stress that Bajo de Masinloc is a high-tide feature with territorial sea, per the 2016 Arbitral Award. It forms as an integral part of the Philippine national territory under the Constitution," it said.
"The Philippines exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction over the shoal and its territorial sea. The 2016 Arbitral Award has also clarified that Filipinos have traditional fishing rights in the water of Bajo de Masinloc protected by international law," it added.
In line with this, the NTFWPS is still firm that the illegal actions taken by the Chinese vessels are violations of international law, particularly the United Nations Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Arbitral Award.
"We firmly insist that these Chinese vessels leave Bajo de Masinloc immediately," the NTFWPS said
"We demand that the Chinese government take immediate actions to halt these aggresive activities, uphold the Principles of International law and desist from actions that would infringe on Philippine sovereignty and endanger the lives and livelihoods of Filipino fishermen who have traditionally fished in the area," it continued.
"The NTFWPS remains committed to protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea," the National Task Force stressed.
JUST IN: NTF WPS, kinondena ang pambobomba ng water cannon ng China Coast Guard sa mga sibilyang barko ng BFAR na nagsasagawa ng resupply mission sa Bajo de Masinloc
— Edniel Parrosa (@ednielparrosa) December 9, 2023
Nasira umano ang communication and navigation equipment ng isa sa tatlong barkong tinamaan ng tubig. @dzrhnews pic.twitter.com/jny97y4i3D
