China Accused of Water Cannoning Philippine Vessels in South China Sea

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Coast guard (PCG) has strongly condemned the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) after two Philippine vessels were subjected to water cannon attacks near Scarborough Shoal (also known as Bajo de masinloc) in the South China sea. The incident has further heightened tensions in the disputed waters, with the Philippines asserting its sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Details of the Incident

On Friday, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) deployed four ships to provide essential supplies, including fuel and goods, to Filipino fishermen operating near Bajo de Masinloc. However, two of these BFAR vessels, BRP Datu Tamblot and BRP Datu Taradapit, were aggressively targeted by CCG vessels 4203 and 3105. The water cannon attacks occured approximately 15.6 nautical miles (NM) and 18.1 NM from the shoal. These actions prompted a strong rebuke from the PCG, which accused China of violating Philippine sovereignty [[1]].

Did You Know? The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The hague ruled in 2016 that China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea have no legal basis.

Philippine Response and Legal Basis

Commodore Tarriela of the PCG emphasized that the location of the incident falls well within the Philippines’ EEZ,approximately 106 to 110 nautical miles from the coastline of Zambales. He asserted that Filipinos have the undeniable right to exploit the resources within these waters, notably fishing. The Philippines maintains that its actions, including the deployment of BFAR and Coast Guard personnel, are fully aligned with the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 arbitral Award [[2]].

Key Legal Frameworks

• Philippine Maritime Zones Act: Defines the maritime zones of the Philippines and its sovereign rights within those zones.
• UNCLOS: Establishes the legal framework for all activities in the oceans and seas, including EEZs.
• 2016 arbitral Award: Invalidated China’s claims to historic rights within the “nine-dash line” in the South China Sea.

Marcos Administration’s Stance

The deployment of BFAR vessels is part of the Marcos administration’s broader strategy to bolster food security by safeguarding the rights and safety of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea. Despite the recent incident, Tarriela affirmed that the BFAR mission would continue, focusing on the distribution of essential goods to fishing communities. As of today, BFAR vessels are en route to Sual, Pangasinan, and other areas in the West Philippine Sea.

Pro Tip: Monitoring maritime traffic and utilizing satellite imagery can provide autonomous verification of incidents in the South China Sea.

Geopolitical Context

The South China Sea is a strategically vital waterway, with overlapping territorial claims from several countries, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. China claims almost all of the South China Sea, including areas within the EEZs of other coastal states. These claims are based on past grounds, which were rejected by the international tribunal in 2016. The region is rich in natural resources, including oil and gas reserves, and is a major shipping route for global trade [[3]].

What are the potential long-term consequences of these escalating tensions? How can international law be more effectively enforced in the South China Sea?

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