PH accuses China ships of aggressive maneuvers in Scarborough Shoal
One of the four Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels involved in the mission was briefly struck by a water cannon, while another evaded being hit, the Philippine Coast Guard said in a statement.
''At approximately 10 a.m., BRP Datu Taradapit faced aggressive maneuvers from the Chinese Coast Guard vessel CCG-4203, which approached within 600 yards and fired a water cannon from 15.6 nautical miles southwest of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal,'' the PCG said.
''Despite these aggressive actions, including blocking maneuvers and a water cannon attack that briefly struck the port quarter of BRP Datu Taradapit, the vessel adeptly maneuvered away to avoid significant damage. At 10:30 a.m., CCG-3105 targeted BRP Datu Tamblot with a water cannon from a distance of 18.1 nautical miles southeast of the shoal, but the attack missed its mark,'' it added.
The PCG said it monitored six China Coast Guard vessels, two PLA Navy warships, and multiple Chinese maritime militia vessels during the operation.
It also said the BFAR was able to distribute fuel subsidies to over 20 local fishing boats.
''Despite the unprofessional and illegal actions of the Chinese Coast Guard, which endangered Filipino crew members and fishermen, BFAR vessels remained resolute in their mission to protect local fishing boats,'' the PCG said.
Scarborough Shoal, which is also referred to as Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal, is a triangular coral reef formation that surrounds a lagoon and is famed for its rich marine resources.
The shoal is located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, and is considered within the Philippines' 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."
China refused to recognize the ruling. — with a report from Reuters/VBL, GMA Integrated News
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