CCG insists BFAR driven from Scarborough; PCG calls China claims inaccurate

The China Coast Guard (CCG) on Friday said it again drove away a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel from the Scarborough Shoal.

In a statement posted on its website, CCG spokesperson Gan Yu said that BFAR ship 3002 or BRP Datu Sanday supposedly ignored China’s dissuasion and warnings and insisted on “intruding” into the shoal's waters on Thursday and Friday.

“Even though multiple warnings were ineffective, the CCG took necessary measures such as forcing the Philippine ship out of custody and controlling the route to drive it away in accordance with the law,” said the CCG statement.

“We urge the Philippines to immediately stop its infringement and reserve the right to take further control actions. China has indisputable sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal and its adjacent waters,” it added.

According to the CCG, China’s on-site operations were "professional and standardized, legal and rational, and restrained."

The CCG accused the Philippines of allegedly violating China's sovereignty and international law, as well as the basic norms of international relations.

Sought for comment on the CCG's statement, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela responded, "The persistent presence of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel, BRP Datu Sanday, in Bajo De Masinloc since February 21, 2024 is consistent with the national laws and the Philippines’ position on the West Philippine Sea. The objective of her presence is to ensure the safety of Filipino fishermen in the area and to safeguard them from harassment. Moreover, the BFAR distributes fuel subsidies to the Filipino Fishing Boats (FFBs) that are present in the area to support their prolonged fishing activities."

Tarriela added that the Philippines had sovereignty over the Bajo De Masinloc and its territorial sea, and sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the surrounding waters falling within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone as measured from the Philippine archipelagic baselines, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

GMA News Online had also sought comment from the National Task Force West Philippines Sea on the matter but they have yet to respond as of posting time.

On Thursday, Tarriela said that China's claims were inaccurate.

"This statement is inaccurate. The BFAR vessel, BRP DATU SANDAY, continues to patrol the waters of Bajo de Masinloc," Tarriela said.

He added that the BFAR vessel was actively ensuring the security of Filipino fishermen in the area.

Tarriela pointed out that some members of the press were onboard the BFAR vessel and their reports would support PCG's statement.

The PCG official made the statement after Chinese state television said the CCG drove away a BFAR vessel that it said "illegally intruded" into the waters adjacent to Scarborough Shoal.

@jaytaryela is correct, of course. The ????????#Philippines' Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources (@bfarph) vessel BRP Datu Sanday remains on station at Scarborough Shoal as of this evening. It has lots of company, but clearly has not been "repelled" by the ????????#China Coast Guard. https://t.co/KlySle6Kie pic.twitter.com/97l4mFscWT

— Ray Powell (@GordianKnotRay) February 22, 2024

American maritime security analyst  Ray Powell agreed with Tarriela saying that the BFAR ship BRP Datu Sanday remained at the Scarborough Shoal as of Thursday evening.

“[Tarriela]  is correct, of course. The Philippines' Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources vessel BRP Datu Sanday remains on station at Scarborough Shoal as of this evening,” said Powell, who was also a former United States Air Force official and ex-Defense Attaché.

“It has lots of company, but clearly has not been ‘repelled’ by the China Coast Guard,” Powell added.

To protect fishermen, the Philippines earlier announced that it would rotate BFAR and PCG vessels at the Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc starting this February.

Tensions between China and the Philippines have heightened in recent months as both sides traded accusations over a series of incidents in the West Philippine Sea.

Located within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the Scarborough Shoal, also referred to as the Panatag Shoal, was claimed by China, making it one of Asia's most contested maritime features and a flashpoint for flare-ups.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Its territorial claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Parts of the waters within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone have been renamed the West Philippine Sea.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in the Hague said China's claims had no legal basis, a decision Beijing has rejected. — DVM, GMA Integrated News