A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel rammed a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel delivering fuel assistance to Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Friday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
According to PCG spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, BRP Datu Magat Salamat was conducting a fuel subsidy mission near Abad Santos Shoal, off Palawan, when the incident occurred.
Tarriela said the Chinese vessel CCG-21585 made several dangerous maneuvers before striking the BFAR vessel.
At around 11:04 a.m., CCG-21585 reportedly crossed behind the BFAR vessel at a distance of about 10 meters. At approximately 11:13 a.m., the Chinese vessel repeated the maneuver and made contact with the BFAR ship while it was maintaining its course.
The collision damaged the starboard side of the BFAR vessel, with its main railings bent, broken and detached. Metal stanchions and support structures were also deformed, while deck fixtures and equipment were displaced, leaving debris scattered across the deck, the PCG said.
The Chinese vessel also passed behind the BFAR ship at a distance of about five meters after the collision, according to the PCG.
The incident occurred at approximately 6.36 nautical miles north-northwest of Abad Santos Shoal and about 54 nautical miles from the coast of Palawan, within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the PCG said.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan directed PCG surface and air assets to proceed to the BFAR vessel's location to provide assistance and ensure the safety of its crew.
“Let us be clear about what this vessel was doing: it was bringing fuel to Filipino fishermen so they can keep fishing in our own waters and keep food on Filipino tables. The China Coast Guard deliberately rammed a civilian government vessel on a humanitarian and livelihood mission, endangering the lives of its Filipino crew,” Tarriela stressed.
Tarriela said the incident violated the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
“No amount of ramming or dangerous maneuvering will change the fact that these waters belong to the Filipino people,“ he noted.
Tarriela said the PCG would continue supporting BFAR missions in the WPS to help ensure that Filipino fishermen can exercise their rights in the country's EEZ.
