PH task force: China vessels rammed, towed, damaged boats

The Philippines' task force on the West Philippine Sea has turned the tables on China, saying it was Chinese vessels that engaged in dangerous maneuvers such as "ramming and towing" while Filipino boats conducted a routine rotation and resupply mission at the Ayungin Shoal on Monday.

"The People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N), China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels engaged in dangerous maneuvers, including ramming and towing," the national task force said in a statement.

"We strongly condemn the illegal, aggressive, and reckless actions of the PLA-N, CCG, and CMM. Their actions put at risk the lives of our personnel and damaged our boats, in blatant violation of international law, particularly the United Nations Charter, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award," it added.

The task force said Filipino personnel showed restraint and professionalism, refrained from escalating the tension, and carried on with their mission "despite the illegal, aggressive, and reckless actions by the Chinese maritime forces."

"The Philippines is committed to pursuing peaceful and responsible actions in accordance with international law," the task force said.

"It is our expectation that China, as a member of the international community, would also do the same. The AFP and PCG remain steadfast in upholding Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea," it added.

Filipino soldier hurt

According to Joseph Morong's report on "24 Oras," a Filipino soldier was hurt during the reported collision.

A trusted source said a medical evacuation had been conducted to aid the soldier who sustained injuries during the alleged resupply mission. His condition is still being determined.

Maritime security expert Ray Powell said three China Coast Guard (CCG) ships and 12 maritime militia vessels were deployed in the area. Satellite images, meanwhile, showed a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship was also stationed in the Ayungin Shoal.

“It’s down to the southeast, about 20 nautical miles southeast of Ayungin and then just recently in the last couple of hours, it has moved north to where the maritime militia have been,” said Powell. 

He also said the Philippines appeared to have used a different strategy for the resupply mission with the PCG vessels not escorting the resupply vessel directly in the area. 

“The PCG would come in from the east and escort the resupply vessel directly into Ayungin Shoal. Who exactly is escorting the resupply vessel is not clear from the ship tracks,” the maritime security expert said. 

The PCG usually escorts the resupply mission but disowned the operation. 

China accusation

The CCG on Monday morning said vessels of the Philippines and China collided in the waters adjacent to Ayungin Shoal, saying the Philippine supply boat dangerously approached the Chinese ship.

It said the Philippine ship illegally intruded into the waters adjacent to the Second Thomas Shoal and ignored China's repeated solemn warnings, the coast guard added in a statement.

The statement made no mention of injuries or damage to either vessel due to the slight collision.

For months, China and the Philippines have traded accusations over dangerous maneuvers and collisions at Ayungin Shoal, an atoll in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

READ: EXPLAINER: What is the Ayungin Shoal and why is it important?

Several incidents have happened when the Philippines deploys resupply missions for Filipino soldiers living aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, an aging warship there deliberately run aground to protect Manila's maritime claims.

Ayungin in PH EEZ

The Ayungin Shoal is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is within the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and is part of its continental shelf.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

China had previously warned the Philippines about intruding into its territorial waters and the country has issued new rules, which went into effect on June 15, that would enforce a 2021 law allowing its coast guard to use lethal force against foreign ships in waters that it claims.

The new rules allow China's coast guard to detain suspected trespassers without trial for 60 days. —NB, GMA Integrated News