PCG says changes in Chinese vessels’ actions in WPS after ‘harassment’ exposed

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday said there has been an improvement in the behavior of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) after the Philippines "exposed" the CCG's "aggressive actions" in the area.

"In some features of the WPS, we can already see some of the changes of behavior of the CCG. Before they were aggressive all over the West Philippine Sea," PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said in an interview on ANC.

“Whenever they shadowed us they [would] always stay alongside the PCG vessel with a very close distance. But nowadays in other places, whenever they shadow the PCG, they are now tailing us from behind,” he added.

Tarriela said the CCG might be conscious that their “harassment” and “bullying” activities towards the PCG can be captured on camera.

However, Tarriela said that “what is happening in Ayungin Shoal is different from the entire operation of the CCG and our deployment of the PCG vessels in the entire WPS.”

On Wednesday, the PCG said two CCG vessels made "dangerous maneuvers" that could have caused a collision with two PCG ships near Ayungin Shoal on June 30.

Tarriela added that another CCG vessel with body number 3103 went to the area from Bajo Masinloc to “reinforce” the two CCG vessels.

After the incident, Tarriela said, six Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels swarmed the area and blocked the Philippine ship from going to Ayungin Shoal.

He also said two People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy warships, 629 and 620, were seen in the area. — Joviland Rita/BM, GMA Integrated News