China ship blasts with water cannon, rams Phl vessel

In yet another case of Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel blasted with water cannon and rammed a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship operating near Pag-asa Island yesterday morning.

- By CHRISTINE BOTON

According to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson on WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela, CCG-21559 directed its water cannon at Datu Pagbuaya at around 9:15 a.m., hitting the Philippine vessel.

Just three minutes later, at 9:18 a.m., the same Chinese ship rammed the stern of the Datu Pagbuaya, causing minor structural damage. No crew injuries were reported.

"This morning, while three BFAR vessels, including the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, were safely anchored in the territorial waters of Pag-asa Island to provide protection for Filipino fishermen as part of the Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda (KBBM), they faced dangerous and provocative maneuvers from the China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels," Tarriela said in a statement.

"Around 8:15 a.m., the Chinese maritime forces approached dangerously close, activating their water cannons as a clear threat against the BFAR vessels," he added.

The incident adds to a series of confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the WPS, including several recent cases of water cannon attacks and ramming near Ayungin and Escoda Shoals.

Last month, the Philippine government said one person was injured when a water cannon attack by a CCG vessel shattered a window on the bridge of another fisheries bureau ship, Datu Gumbay Piang, near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.