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Miami Herald
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Footage Shows China Firing Water Cannon at US Ally Near Disputed Territory
The Philippines has released footage showing the Chinese coast guard deploying water cannons to drive away a fisheries bureau vessel operating within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry via email for comment. China claims the South China Sea as its territory, citing vague historic rights. Beijing has dismissed as invalid a 2016 decision by a Hague-based arbitral court that rejected these claims. Since 2023, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has pushed back against the growing presence of Chinese maritime forces within the country's exclusive economic zone. This challenge has been met with Chinese blockades at disputed features and increasingly forceful measures, raising concerns that a miscalculation could trigger Manila's Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington and draw the United States into a conflict with China. On Friday morning, four vessels from the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources arrived at Scarborough Shoal-a rich fishing ground-to distribute fuel subsidies to more than 20 local fishing boats, Philippine coast guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela wrote on X (formerly Twitter). At around 10 a.m., Chinese coast guard ships moved in and began conducting "aggressive maneuvers," Tarriela said. One Chinese vessel came within 16 yards of the Philippine ship BRP Datu Taradapit, about 18 miles southwest of Scarborough Shoal, carrying out blocking maneuvers and firing its water cannon, at one point striking the port quarter of the Philippine vessel, according to Tarriela. Another Chinese coast guard cutter fired its water cannon at the BRP Datu Tamblot, another fisheries bureau vessel, about 20 miles southeast of the shoal, but did not strike the boat directly. Tarriela said the Chinese ships monitored in the area included six coast guard vessels, two navy warships, and a number of ships belonging to the so-called Maritime Militia-paramilitary vessels that China describes as patriotic fishermen. "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," Tarriela said. Chinese coast guard spokesperson Liu Dejun, in a statement, accused the Datu Taradapit of "approaching and intruding" into the waters around Scarborough Shoal and said the coast guard had taken "necessary measures" to drive it away. "The Philippine side's actions have seriously violated China's sovereignty and violated international law and relevant provisions of Chinese law. The frequent provocations and nuisances by the Philippine side cannot change the fact that Scarborough Shoal belongs to China," he added. Scarborough Shoal sits about 140 miles west of the Philippines' Luzon Island and nearly 700 miles from China's southernmost province of Hainan. The area is well within the Southeast Asian country's exclusive economic zone, which extends 230 miles from its coastal baselines. The National Maritime Council, which operates under the Philippines' presidential office, in a statement: "These actions violate international law, specifically UNCLOS [the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea] and the 2016 arbitral ruling and jeopardize the safety of Philippine personnel and local fishing communities." Bao Yinan, a maritime policy analyst, wrote for Chinese think tank the South China Sea Probing Initiative in an June 21 article: "Given that disputes between China and the Philippines in certain parts of the South China Sea in recent years have not been properly resolved, with periodic escalations occurring over the past two years, the likelihood of the two countries resolving their disputes through negotiation or judicial means in the short term appears minimal." Neither China nor the Philippines has signaled any willingness to back down. Tensions remain high, though the intensity of confrontations has eased somewhat since a June 2024 clash that left one sailor injured. Related Articles Photos Show US Air Force Training for Pacific WarHow 'Groundbreaking' Chinese Satellite Compares With StarlinkHow Iran Could Close the Strait of HormuzChina's Assertive Patrols Alarm US Pacific Ally 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
GMA Network
23-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Romualdez to foreign lawmakers: PH remains steadfast in protecting sovereignty in WPS
Speaker Martin Romualdez of Leyte touted the Philippines' readiness to defend its sovereign rights within its waters and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) before lawmakers from different countries of the world. Romualdez made the speech during the 29th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum (PI-SF) held in Spain on Thursday afternoon (Manila time). Romualdez cited the Philippines' commitment to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award issued by the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration which upheld the Philippines' 200 nautical miles off territorial sea EEZ in West Philippine Sea and rejected China's sweeping nine-dash claims in the area. 'Let me be clear: the Philippines remains steadfast in protecting our rights and entitlements in the West Philippine Sea by upholding international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award. We categorically reject attempts to undermine our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction through coercion or disinformation,' Romualdez said. 'Our approach is anchored on legal clarity, diplomatic dialogue, leveraging partnerships, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. We will not allow foreign narratives to distort the truth on the ground. Nor will we permit coercive actions to dictate our national destiny,' he added. Rule of Law The Speaker's remarks came in the aftermath of the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) report on Thursday that a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship fired water cannon and sideswiped a Philippine BFAR vessel in Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) in the West Philippine Sea where the BFAR vessel is conducting a marine scientific research initiative. The said area is within the Philippines' EEZ. Prior to the BFAR incident, Chinese Coast Guard vessels had also used water cannons against Philippine supply boats in several incidents and conducted dangerous blocking maneuvers near Ayungin Shoal, as well as swarmed Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, which were all condemned by Philippine officials and international observers. 'These are not isolated incidents. This is not just a regional issue. It is a global test of whether the rule of law will prevail over brute force,' Romualdez added. The Speaker then called on the Philippines' fellow democratic nations to remain vigilant and united against gray-zone tactics, cyber-enabled propaganda, and the creeping erosion of maritime law and order. 'We serve not only as lawmakers but as standard-bearers of the democratic rule of law. In an age when misinformation, cyberattacks, and technological disruption threaten the very fabric of our societies, the need for vigilance and unity among democracies has never been greater,' Romualdez said. 'Forums like the PI-SF allow us to expand these initiatives globally. Here, we are not merely exchanging intelligence — we are building solidarity, mutual understanding, and the legislative muscle to defend freedom and prosperity in this rapidly shifting world,' Romualdez added. Hosted by the Spanish Senate and chaired by former US lawmaker Robert Pittenger of North Carolina, the 29th PI-SF convened over 40 nations to align strategies on countering global threats. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
Qatar Tribune
22-05-2025
- Qatar Tribune
Philippines accuses China of ‘aggressive' sea tactics
ManilacTypeface:> The Philippines fisheries bureau has accused China's coastguard of firing water cannon and sideswiping a Filipino government vessel during a research voyage in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources condemned on Thursday what it said was the 'aggressive interference' of the Chinese coastguard against the Datu Sanday and a second ship during the incident on Wednesday. The encounter occurred near a group of small sandbanks in the Spratly Islands where two Filipino ships were collecting sand samples 'as part of a marine scientific research initiative', the statement said. 'At approximately 0913H, CCG vessel 21559 water cannoned and sideswiped the BRP Datu Sandaytwice … putting at risk lives of its civilian personnel.' The 'aggressive interference, dangerous maneuvers, and illegal acts' damaged the Philippine ship's port bow and smokestack, according to the bureau's statement. The Chinese coastguard said the Philippine vessel 'dangerously' approached its ship. (Agencies)
Associated Press
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Chinese navy helicopter flies close to Philippine patrol plane over disputed shoal
The Cessna Caravan turbo-prop plane of the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, defied the Chinese navy's order for it to leave and continued its routine patrol over the hotly disputed Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines. The plane was carrying an Associated Press journalist and other invited foreign media representatives, who witnessed the tense 30-minute standoff. (AP video by Joeal Calupitan)
CBS News
18-02-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
China military helicopter flies within 10 feet of Philippines patrol plane over South China Sea
Over the Scarborough Shoal, South China Sea — A Chinese navy helicopter flew within 10 feet of a Philippine patrol plane Tuesday in a disputed area of the South China Sea, prompting the Filipino pilot to warn by radio: "You are flying too close, you are very dangerous." The Chinese helicopter was attempting to force a Cessna Caravan turboprop plane belonging to the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources out of what China claims is its airspace over the hotly disputed Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines. An Associated Press journalist and other invited foreign media on the plane witnessed the tense 30-minute standoff as the Philippine plane pressed on with its low-altitude patrol around Scarborough with the Chinese navy helicopter hovering close above it or flying to its left in cloudy weather. "You are flying too close, you are very dangerous and endangering the lives of our crew and passengers," the Philippine pilot told the Chinese navy helicopter by radio at one point. "Keep away and distance your aircraft from us, you are violating the safety standard set by FAA and ICAO." The pilot was referring to the standard distance between aircraft required by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the International Civil Aviation Organization to prevent air disasters. There was no sign that the Philippine plane had to alter its planned path and altitude to avoid a collision. The Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries said in a statement that they remain "committed to asserting our sovereignty, sovereign rights and maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, despite the aggressive and escalatory actions of China." They referred to the Philippine name for the stretch of waters in the South China Sea closer to the Philippines' western coast. The Chinese military, referring to Scarborough Shoal by its Chinese name, said the plane had "illegally entered the airspace of China's Huangyan Island without the Chinese government's permission." The Chinese Southern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to track and warn the plane away, Senior Col. Tian Junli, spokesperson for the command, said in a written statement posted online. The Philippines "confused right and wrong and spread false narratives," the statement said. Why the Philippines-China standoff matters to the U.S. Tuesday's encounter, which is expected to be protested by the Philippine government, is the latest flashpoint in a decades-long territorial standoff in one of the world's busiest trade routes, which involves China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan . Confrontations on the high seas have spiked between Chinese and Philippine coast guards in the last two years at Scarborough and Second Thomas Shoal, where a grounded Philippine navy ship has served as a military territorial outpost since 1999 but has since been closely surrounded by Chinese coast guard, navy and other ships. While most analysts believe the most likely origin of any potential military conflict between the United States and China would be an attempt by China to invade Taiwan, the escalating tension between Beijing and the Philippines is also a possible contact point, as the U.S. has a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines, which could mean American intervention. China claims virtually all of the South China Sea as its territory. It is one of the world's most vital waterways, with more than $3 trillion in goods passing through its waters per year. As CBS News Cecelia Vega reported for 60 Minutes last year, to assert its claim over the sea, China has used tactics just short of war, sometimes leading to violent confrontations, in what has been called "the most dangerous conflict no one is talking about." In December, the Philippines announced plans to acquire the Typhon missile system from the U.S. as part of a push to secure its maritime interests, drawing warnings from China of a regional "arms race." The U.S. has said it's obligated to defend the Philippines — its oldest treaty ally in Asia — if Filipino forces, ships or aircraft come under armed attack, including in the South China Sea. China has warned the U.S. and its allies not to meddle in what it calls a purely Asian dispute. The history of the Philippines-China dispute China deployed its naval force around Scarborough after a tense standoff with Philippine ships in 2012. The following year, the Philippines brought its disputes with China to international arbitration. A 2016 decision by a United Nations-backed arbitration panel invalidated China's expansive claim in the South China Sea based on the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. China, a signatory to the UNCLOS like the Philippines, refused to participate in the arbitration, rejected its outcome and continues to defy it. Faced by China's military might, the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has resorted to a shame campaign — embedding Philippine and foreign journalists in its sea and air patrols in a bid to expose Beijing's increasingly assertive actions. The Philippines has also been strengthening its security alliances with the U.S., Japan, Australian, France, Canada, the European Union and other Western countries to shore up its external defense.
