The China Coast Guard (CCG) fired a water cannon at a Philippine fishery vessel and carried out a dangerous maneuver against another during a fuel subsidy mission at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Thursday.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the mission under the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) proceeded despite the encounter, with no reported injuries and both BFAR vessels completing the distribution of fuel subsidies and food packs to Filipino fishermen.
At approximately 5:54 a.m., a CCG vessel closed to merely 50 meters off the bow of BRP Datu Dumangsil, and at 6:29 a.m., it fired its water cannon at the vessel for more than two minutes, scoring an indirect hit. Another CCG vessel crossed about 500 meters ahead of the bow of BFAR vessel Datu Paiburong in a dangerous maneuver.
The PCG also deployed a Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft for a maritime domain awareness flight over the shoal, during which Chinese forces issued a radio challenge while the aircraft was operating within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. The PCG said the patrol monitored three CCG vessels, two Chinese maritime militia vessels and one People's Liberation Army Navy ship in the area.
The PCG claimed the Chinese actions were intended to force the BFAR vessels to abandon their course, which they described as a "muscle flexing" attempt to intimidate the smaller Philippine vessel. The PCG reiterated that Bajo de Masinloc, the Philippine name for the shoal, is within Philippine territory, citing the 2016 arbitral ruling that affirmed the traditional fishing rights of Filipino fishermen in the area.
The CCG, however, rejected the Philippine account, stating that two Philippine government vessels "disregarded China's repeated dissuasion and warnings" and "deliberately intruded into waters of Huangyan Dao within China's jurisdiction." The CCG claimed their actions were "professional, standardized, lawful and legitimate," and that they would continue law enforcement activities to safeguard China's maritime rights.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. sought a "reset" in relations with Beijing during a fuel subsidy mission for Filipino fishermen at Scarborough Shoal. He met with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan on Tuesday and expressed his desire to prevent further confrontations and improve bilateral ties.
The Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said Mr. Marcos expressed his desire to ensure that incidents do not recur and to reset Philippine-China relations toward better engagement. She also rejected suggestions of conflicting positions within the administration, saying Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. and the President were acting within their respective mandates.
On Thursday, Mr. Marcos visited two Philippine Navy personnel injured during a confrontation with the CCG near Second Thomas Shoal and conferred on them the Order of Lapu-Lapu, along with P100,000 in financial assistance each.
