AMTI: China thrice harassed Filipino vessels in past two months

The Chinese Coast Guard and militia, in three separate incidents over the last two months, harassed Filipino vessels in the Philippine's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) reported.

According to the AMTI, China challenged vessels conducting marine research and hydrocarbon exploration activities within the Philippines’ EEZ.

A 60-meter research vessel operated by the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA BFAR) from Palawan was trailed by Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5304 at extremely close distances.

The CCG vessel closed to around 100 meters in multiple instances as it approached the Second Thomas Shoal last April 21.

“As the CCG 5304 pursued, the CCG 5303 and two Hainan-based militia vessels, the Qiong Sansha Yu 00401 and Qiong Sansha Yu 00105, closed in from the north. Under pressure, the DA BFAR turned around 12.7 nautical miles from Second Thomas Shoal,” the AMTI said.

“It retreated 13 nautical miles east before heading north toward Philippine-occupied Nanshan Island, tailed by the CCG 5304,” it added.

Meanwhile, a 44.5-meter Parola-class patrol vessel of the Philippine Coast Guard, the BRP Cape Engaño, approached Second Thomas from the east of Palawan.

AMTI said it was marked by CCG 5303 and Qiong Sansha Yu 00105, each vessel shadowing at distances of around a nautical mile as it headed toward Second Thomas.

As the three vessels stopped 6 nautical miles from the shoal, three more Chinese militia vessels approached the area.

"The vessels all maintained their positions for several hours before the Cape Engaño turned back eastward, encouraged by the approaching 5303, which tailed it until it left the area heading northwest toward unoccupied Whitsun Reef," AMTI said.

China squares off with Taiwan, Philippines

The AMTI also recounted how the Taiwan Ocean Research Institute vessel Legend set sail for the Philippines on March 13 as part of a cooperative effort between the University of the Philippines' National Institute of Geological Sciences and Taiwan's National Central University.

As part of Taiwan's New Southbound Policy, the Legend was to undertake research in the Philippines.

AMTI said CCG 5203 left Panganiban (Mischief) Reef on March 23 and began following the Legend as it continued its research 60 nautical miles northwest of Luzon.

It noted that Taiwan had to deploy its own coast guard vessels CG 5001 Chiayi, CG 117 Taichung and CG 120 Kaohsiung to keep the CCG ship away from the Legend.

On April 6, the Legend again moved farther offshore, operating 70 nautical miles west of Luzon.

This time it was accompanied by a Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessel, the 45-meter BRP Capones.

“The CCG 5203 returned that same night to again shadow the Legend with the Capones providing protection,” the AMTI said. “The game of cat and mouse ended on April 9 when the Legend returned to Taiwan.”

The Geo Coral

In another incident, the Norwegian survey ship Geo Coral and supply ship Mariska G were shadowed by CCG 4201 as they landed in Block SC 75 around 60 nautical miles off the coast of Palawan on April 4.

Geo Coral and Mariska G were conducting 3D seismic surveys in SC 75 as earlier announced by PXP Energy.

“The 4201 closely followed the two vessels for the next two days until, on April 6, the Philippines’ Department of Energy ordered PXP Energy to 'put on hold all exploration activities for SC 75 and SC 72 until such time that the [the Presidential Cabinet's Security, Justice and Peace Coordinating Cluster] has issued the necessary clearance to proceed,'" AMTI said.

China controls maritime activity

AMTI pointed out that all three incidents demonstrated Beijing’s determination “to control maritime activity within the nine-dash line, and to create a high risk of collisions at sea to do so.”

“In one instance, its tactics clearly succeeded, convincing the Philippines to backpedal on an October 2020 decision to lift a nearly decade-old moratorium on oil and gas exploration in areas of its continental shelf that fall within the nine-dash line," it said.

“This follows a complete lack of progress on joint exploration despite a 2018 memorandum of understanding with Beijing, making it unclear whether the Philippines will ever be able to access its hydrocarbon resources at Reed Bank,” it added.

Meanwhile, in Chino Gaston’s report on “24 Oras” on Monday, BFAR National Director Eduardo Gongona confirmed the incident involving their ship, but insisted that the captain and crew of their vessel stood firm against the CCG.

“Pinapaalis daw sila… ‘yun ay para sa jurisdiction ng China. Talagang ‘yung M/V DA BFAR naman, ang misyon talaga doon para mag-research and then, of course, pangalagaan ‘yung fishermen natin, fishing vessels and environment. So, tuloy-tuloy lang sila,” Gongona said.

(They were being made to leave… [they claimed the area] was under the jurisdiction of China. The M/V DA BFAR was there on a research mission and then, of course, to protect our fishermen, fishing vessels, and the environment. So, they stuck to their mission.)

“Sinundan sila ng CCG at dumikit sa kanila ito ng mahigit-kumulang 200 meters. Kalaunan, natapos din ang insidente sa radio challenge sa pagitang ng dalawang kampo at nagpatuloy ang M/V DA BFAR sa mission ito,” he added.

(The CCG followed them and closed to about 200 meters. Eventually, the  incident ended after a radio challenge between the two vessels, and the M/V DA BFAR continued its mission.)

Security Analyst Professor Rommel Banlaoi said China deliberately used its fishing militias and coast guard for harassment at the West Philippine Sea.

Banlaoi also pointed out that the United States could not intervene in Chinese “gray area" operations.

“Very alarming yan on the part of the Philippines… it’s part of the implementation of the gray area operations… it’s non-military action but supporting the overall military objectives of China,” he said.

(It’s very alarming for the Philippines… it’s part of the implementation of the gray area operations… it’s a non-military action but supports the overall military objectives of China.)

“Under the terms of the Mutual Defense Treaty, the United States cannot act to support the Philippines arising from China’s gray zone area. The United States can only act under the situation of direct military attack,” he added.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told GMA News that they had not received any reports of harassment.

GMA News is still seeking comment from the Philippine Coast Guard and Chinese Embassy regarding the matter.

The Department of National Defense (DND) on Sunday said several Chinese and Vietnamese fisherfolk and coast guard units were still present in the West Philippine Sea, with the Philippine government unable to drive them out over fears of a war.

To recall, the CCG blocked and used a water cannon on two Philippine boats on a resupply mission to the Ayungin Shoal in November 2021.

That same month, China also demanded that the Philippines remove the grounded Philippine vessel BRP Sierra Madre from the Ayungin Shoal a day after Filipino boats reached the grounded Navy ship to complete their resupply mission.

The Philippine government sued China before the international arbitral tribunal in The Hague in 2013. The tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines in July 2016 when it junked China's nine-dash claim over the South China Sea.

China however rejected the Philippines' call to comply with the 2016 arbitration ruling, calling the decision "illegal and invalid.”

In April 2021, outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte said nothing would happen even if he sailed to the WPS "because we are not in possession of the sea."

Meanwhile, President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos on Thursday said his administration would defend the country's sovereignty by talking to China "with a firm voice."

“On other fronts, Philippine law enforcement, navy, and marine science actors have been stepping up their activities in the South China Sea despite an increasingly assertive China,” the AMTI said.

“But with a new administration taking power at the end of June, it remains to be seen how forcefully the Philippines will continue to assert those rights.” — DVM, GMA News