China ship uses water cannon, sideswipes BFAR vessel

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources research vessels in the West Philippine Sea were blasted with water cannons by the China Coast Guard (CCG), marking the first attack on Philippine civilian vessels, the BFAR said yesterday.

- JASPER EMMANUEL ARCALAS and GHIO ONG

BFAR said it condemned the "aggressive" interference by CCG against its two vessels that were conducting a routine marine scientific research mission in the vicinity of Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) on May 21.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) also lambasted the CCG for its latest episode of aggression toward Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

The BRP Datu Sanday and BRP Datu Pagbuaya were on a mission with a Filipino scientific team collecting sand samples as part of their marine research initiative.

At approximately 9:13 a.m. on Wednesday, CCG vessel 21559 blasted with a water cannon and sideswiped Datu Sanday twice, resulting in damage to the latter's port bow and smokestack as well as putting at risk the lives of civilian personnel on board, according to BFAR.

"This incident marks the first time water cannons have been used against DA-BFAR research vessels in the area of the Pag-asa Cay," the BFAR said in a statement.

Despite the interference by Chinese maritime forces, the Philippine scientific team was able to complete its research operations in Pag-asa Cays 1, 2 and 3, BFAR said.

BFAR reiterated that the incident occurred within the territorial sea of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea.

The presence of two CCG vessels 21559 and 5103, as well as two Chinese maritime militia vessels that "supported the harassment," added to the hostile situation, PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesman on West Philippine Sea issues said in an online media briefing.