Two Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ships performed "dangerous maneuvers" on June 30 that may have led to a collision with two PCG ships near Ayungin Shoal, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed on Wednesday, July 5.
According to Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG's spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, the incident happened when they were accompanying the Philippine Armed Forces' naval operation near Ayungin, also known as Second Thomas Shoal and known to the Chinese as "Ren'ai Reef."
It has been said that BRP Malabrigo (MRRV-4402) and BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) were dispatched to Sabina (Escoda) Shoal, about 70 kilometers from Ayungin Shoal, to assist the Philippine Navy (PN) with its rotation and resupply mission for the troops assigned at BRP Sierra Madre, a navy ship purposefully grounded on Ayungin to serve as a military detachment.
The two PCG ships, however, noticed two China Coast Guard (CCG) ships with the bow numbers "5201" and "4203" as they cruised perilously near them while they were approaching Ayungin Shoal.
"When the two PCG vessels reached a distance of 10.59 nautical miles away from Ayungin Shoal, namataan namin itong dalawang CCG vessels, 5201 and 4203," said Tarriela in a televised briefing.
"Ang ginawa nila is they came close sa ating dalawang PCG vessels within approximate distance of 100 yards, while at the same time, ang ginawa ng ating dalawang Coast Guard vessel, para ma-prevent itong possible banggaan, they have to decrease the speed," he added.
Tarriela clarified that the Philippine vessels were being blocked from coming close to Ayungin because they supported the Naval operation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during the incident.
Aside from this, two People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ships were observed by the Philippine Coast Guard 9 nautical miles away from Ayungin.
In recent years, the CCG and marine militias have also been repeatedly charged by the Philippines with harassing and attacking fishing boats
