CCG, militia harassed, blocked PH vessel at Bajo de Masinloc - security analyst

A security analyst confirmed six Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and maritime militia vessels harassed and blocked the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Malabrigo while it was en route to the Bajo de Masinloc last week.

“BRP Malabrigo near Scarborough Shoal, harassed constantly by #China Coast Guard & militia ships,” said security analyst Ray Powell on X (formerly Twittter).
 

How was your Thursday? This is what Thursday was like for the crew of the ????????@coastguardph's BRP Malabrigo near Scarborough Shoal, harassed constantly by ????????#China Coast Guard & militia ships. https://t.co/fZeSdL4Z04 pic.twitter.com/lvtySzKKKX

— Ray Powell (@GordianKnotRay) March 8, 2024

“At Scarborough Shoal it was harassed by at least 2 #China Coast Guard & 4 militia ships, which repeatedly employed dangerous swarming & bow-crossing maneuvers over 21 hours starting after midnight 7 March,” he said in another post.

Although it is hard to determine what actually occurred, Powell said data from Automatic Identification System (AIS) clearly shows that the Chinese vessels harassed and blocked the path of the Philippine patrol ship.

????8/x-????????#Philippines Coast Guard BRP Malabrigo now on its way home. At Scarborough Shoal it was harassed by at least 2 ????????#China Coast Guard & 4 militia ships, which repeatedly employed dangerous swarming & bow-crossing maneuvers over 21 hours starting after midnight 7 March. pic.twitter.com/spAQL3GagZ

— Ray Powell (@GordianKnotRay) March 8, 2024

According to Chino Gaston’s report on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday, the incident occurred while the BRP Malabrigo (MRRV-4402) was on patrol at the Bajo de Masinloc, within the Philippine's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The Philippine vessel attempted to reach the disputed reef twice but its efforts were prevented by the dangerous maneuvers of the CGC and Chinese maritime militia vessels.

The PCG recently honored 36 personnel of the Malabrigo for their defense of the country's sovereign rights in the Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila has yet to release a statement regarding the incident.—RF,GMA Integrated News