Phl science vessels harassed by China forces

Three Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ships and a helicopter harassed and pushed back on Friday two Philippine fisheries vessels that were on their way to the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) to conduct a scientific survey, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday.

- By GHIO ONG

The incident involving the BRP Datu Pagbuaya and BRP Datu Bankaw of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) came just over a week after Manila and Beijing agreed during a round of talks on Jan. 16 to seek common ground and find ways to cooperate despite their disagreements over territorial claims in the South China Sea.

PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela said the BFAR vessels were en route to Sandy Cay near the KIG to conduct "marine scientific survey and sand sampling" last Friday when they got waylaid by three CCG ships with bow numbers 4106, 4202 and 5103 and a People's Liberation Army Navy helicopter with tail number 24.

The PCG and the BFAR had to call off the scientific research as a result. It was not clear when the scientific research mission will resume.

Tarriela said the CCG “deployed four small boats to harass the two BFAR rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) that were transporting personnel to the Sandy Cay.”