PCG: China harassed Rozul Reef food security mission

The Philippine Coast Guard on Saturday reported that they and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources were harassed by the Chinese Coast Guard while conducting food security operations at the Rozul Reef on Thursday.

In its report, the PCG said their personnel and the BFAR were dropping floating aggregate devices (payao) when two CCG vessels (21551 and 21556), which were the "usual interdictors" in the resupply operation in Ayungin Shoal, arrived and started harassing Filipino fishing boats.

According to the PCG, the CCG vessels “went as far” as pretending to man their water cannons and threatened the Filipino fishermen.

Meanwhile, Mav Gonzales reported on 24 Oras Weekend that the CCG also sailed close to BRP Lapu-Lapu, coming to some 100 yards of the Philippine vessel.

Also, US P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft were seen flying overhead several times as the fishermen dropped the payaos.

The PCG said that the latest "unlawful behavior" demonstrated China's aim to deprive "Filipinos of their rights to access the resources in our Exclusive Economic Zone."

“This aggressive action stems from China's greed and unfounded claim that these waters belong to them based on their imaginary dashed line,” the PCG continued.

The PCG noted that the Rozul Reef, located approximately 128 nautical miles away from Palawan, falls within the Philippines’ EEZ.

"Our assessment of the Chinese Coast Guard, for the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea and the Philippine Coast Guard, is that... it's not true that it's only the resupply mission that they are preventing the Philippine government from carrying out. But they [also] do not hesitate to prevent Filipino fishermen in enjoying our resources in the West Philippine Sea," said PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela on 24 Oras Weekend.

Nevertheless, Tarriela emphasized that the Philippines response to the harassment would be restrained given the directives from the government.

"But again, the guidance [of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.] is very clear. We don't need to escalate the tension. We just have to deal with them professionally."

Tarriela warned that responding in kind to Chinese actions was exactly the reaction China was seeking to provoke.

"If we give them that opportunity, tataasan din nila ang level ng tension, na baka we will be more surprised that we allowed them to justify sending their [People's Liberation Army] Navy warships," the PCG commodore explained.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command last year confirmed cases of massive coral harvesting along Rozul (Iroquois) Reef by Chinese military militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

GMA News Online reached out to the Chinese Embassy for comment, but it had yet to reply as of posting time.

However, according to the Reuters wire service, Chinese coast guard spokesperson Gan Yu said in a statement that its operation was "professional and in accordance with standards". He said the Philippine vessels were government ships using the guise of "fishing protection" to undermine stability in the South China Sea.

Aside from the Rozul Reef, the CCG on Thursday tailed and surrounded Philippine ships on the way to Recto Bank for fishing activities.

According to a GMA Integrated News Bulletin report on Saturday, two China ships first followed the BRP Lapu-Lapu, which escorted Filipino fishermen traveling to the Recto Bank, which is located 80 nautical miles off Palawan.

CCG vessels meanwhile surrounded the Filipino fisherfolk’s boats, and allegedly performed dangerous maneuvers. — DVM, GMA Integrated News