China ship blasts Phl vessel with water cannon

Utilizing water cannons and dangerous blocking maneuvers, China Coast Guard (CCG) and military vessels again harassed Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) early yesterday morning.

- By MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN and MARK ERNEST VILLEZA

The National Security Council (NSC) said the latest attacks happened just 16 nautical miles south of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) were conducting a routine maritime patrol in the vicinity to support Filipino fishermen actively engaged in fishing in the area when the harassment happened, according to NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya.

"During this operation, our vessels encountered aggressive actions from several China Coast Guard vessels, specifically CCG 5303, 3302, 3104, as well as People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels with bow numbers 500 and 571," Malaya said.

He added that CCG 3302 fired a water cannon at the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, aiming directly at the vessel's navigational antennas, around 6:30 a.m.

The PCG also reported the presence of a Chinese Navy ship during the incident.

"Following this hostile action, CCG 3302 intentionally sideswiped the BRP Datu Pagbuaya on its starboard side. Shortly thereafter, at 6:55 a.m., CCG 3302 launched a second water cannon attack on the same vessel," Malaya said.