Chinese Coast Guard Rammed philippine โฃVessel in โSouth Chinaโ Sea, Causing Damage
MANILA, Philippines – A Chinese coast guard ship rammed โขa Philippine fisheriesโค vessel near aโข disputed island in the South China โSea โขon Sunday, causing minorโค structural damage,โ Philippine officials said. The incident, which involved the Philippine vessel โฃ BRP Datu Pagbuaya, occurred near Sandy โคCay, an area China calls Tiexianโ Reef.
The Chinese coast guard ship, identified by bowโฃ number 21559,โค initially fired a water cannon directly at the โ Datu Pagbuaya,โ striking the vesselโข and its two Philippine flags. Three minutes later, the โคChinese โship rammed theโ stern of the Philippine vessel. Noโ injuries to the crew were reported.
“Despite these bullying tactics and aggressive actions, the Philippine coast guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources remainโข resolute,” saidโ Commodore Jay Tarriela โof the Philippine Coastโค Guard.”We will not be intimidated or driven away.” He affirmed that Manila would not “surrender โฃa square inchโค of our territory to any foreign power.”
According to a statement from Chinese coast guard spokesperson Liu Dejun, the Philippine vessels illegally โฃentered waters near Tiexian โReefโ “without theโ permission of the Chinese government.” Liu claimed one of the Philippine vessels dangerously approached the Chinese โCoast Guardโ vessel, causing a scrape, and placed the responsibility for the incident entirely on theโฃ Philippine side, accusing them of undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea. China “sternly warned” theโ Philippines to โ”immediately stop infringement and harassment.”
The incident took โplace near Thitu Island, the โขlargest โof nine islands, islets, โคand reefs inhabited โขby Philippine โขforces in the Spratly archipelago, aโ region fiercely contested in theโค South China Sea. China has transformed โseven barrenโข reefs in the area into island bases, equipped wiht โmissile systems and including runways on three of โthe โคartificial islands. Subi Reef, which has a โขrunway, lies just over โ20 kilometers (12 miles) from Thitu.
Philippine coast guard commandant โAdmiral Ronnie Gil Gavan stated,โฃ “The harassment we faced today only strengthens our resolve,” โadding that the coast guard โฃremains committed to President Ferdinand Marcos’s pledge to defend Philippine territory.