JUST IN: China Coast Guard, muling gumamit ng 'water canon' para itaboy ang resupply mission ng bansa sa Ayungin Shoal | via RH 08 @xtian_mano, DZRH News#SamaSamaTayoPilipino pic.twitter.com/WLXgDZuYsU — DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) November 10, 2023
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) is once again condemning another harassment by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) against Philippine vessels in its resupply mission in BRP Sierra Madre on Friday, November 11.
According to NTF-WPS's press release, the CCG and CMM once again "recklessly harassed, blocked, and executed dangerous maneuvers" to "impede or obstruct" Philippine vessels in their way for a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre (LS 57), which is located at the West Philippine Sea's Ayungin Shoal.
"CCG vessel 5203 deployed a water cannon against Philippine supply vessel M/L Kalayaan in an illegal though unsuccessful attempt to force the lkatter to ater course," NTF-WPS said.
The national task force said M/L Kaayaan and Unazaih Mae 1 (UM1) were both subjected to extremely reckless and dangerous harassment at close proximity by CCG rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIB).
"We condemn, once again, China's latest unprovoked acts of coercion and danerous maneuvers against legitimate and routine Philippine rotation and resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal that have put the lives of our people at risk. The systematic and consistent manner in which the People's Republic of China carried out these illegal and irresponsible acts puts in question and significant doubt the sincerity of its calls for peaceful dialogue," the statement read.
Meanwhile, NTF-WPS is certain that it followed diplomatic ways to perform such activities in its waters, which are entitled to the country's exclusive ecomic zone (EZZ).
"The Philippines, for its part, has acted responsibly, consistent with rules-based international law, on the basis of UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitration Award," it noted.
Contrarily, CCG said in a statement that two small Philippine transport ships and three Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ships "illegally" entered "Ren'ai Jiao in China's Nansha Islands."
"The CCG lawfully monitored the Philippine vessels and implemented control measures, making special temporary arrangements for the transportation of necessary supplies, such as food, by the Philippine side," the CCCG said.
The Spratly Islands, or what China calls the Nansha Islands, are part of the Philippines' EEZ, according to the United Nations Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In August of this year, the PCG was reportedly water cannoned and obstructed by the CCG en route to Ayungin Shoal, where BRP Sierra Madre is located.
The Philippines has multiple times condemned China's harassment, but China stands firm in its claim.
"The China coast guard has followed Philippine vessels in accordance with the law, taken control measures, and made temporary special arrangements for the Philippine side to transport food and other necessary daily necessities," the coast guard said in a statement.
"We urge the Philippines to immediately stop its violations of China's territorial sovereignty," the statement said.
