Chinese ship tries to ram PH Coast Guard vessel – official

A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship instructing the coast of Zambales again attempted to strike a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel that was blocking it repeatedly on Monday, April 7, a ranking official disclosed.

- By MARTIN SADONGDONG

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS), said the CCG ship with bow number “3302” continued to engage BRP Cabra in “dangerous maneuvers.”

Throughout Monday afternoon, the 99-meter CCG 3302 “made multiple attempts to ram the aft (rear or back end) of the 44-meter BRP Cabra, he said.

The crew of BRP Cabra managed to steer the Philippine vessel away from the Chinese ship to avoid collision.

But the CCG deployed a smaller and faster vessel, CCG-21612, to “further attempt to ram the PCG vessel,” Tarriela noted.

“Despite these aggressive actions, the professionalism, composure, and seamanship of the PCG sailors have successfully outmatched the reckless tactics employed by the two China Coast Guard vessels,” he said.