‘INHUMANE’ The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea says the water cannon attack by the China Coast Guard (CCG) on Saturday, December 9, 2023, caused “significant damage” to the Datu Bankaw (left). It condemned the CCG’s action as “not as only illegal but also inhumane” for it was directed at a humanitarian mission. —Screen grab from Philippine Coast Guard video
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that it has recorded the highest number of Chinese vessels deployed to impede the regular rotation and resupply (RoRe) mission at Ayungin Shoal over the weekend.
On Sunday, the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) rammed and used water cannons against PCG vessels and two chartered boats en route for a RoRe mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
The involved Philippine vessels are BRP Cabra, Unaizah Mae 1, and M/L Kalayaan.
“In total, the PCG has documented the presence of all these [Chinese] coast guard vessels. There are seven of them. This is the first time that we were able to see such numerous number of CCG deployed to prevent the Philippine government from completing our resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal,” PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a Palace briefing.
Below is the list of CCG vessels present during the RoRe mission, as presented by Tarriela:
- CCGV 3106
- CCGV 5204
- CCGV 5305
- CCGV 21551
- CCGV 21555
- CCGV 21556
- CCGV 5402
Meanwhile, Tarriela said that the following CMM vessels were “clearly identified as the ones who really participated in blocking the Philippine vessels and resupply boats:”
- QIONG SANSHA YU 00210
- QIONG SANSHA YU 00212
- QIONG SANSHA YU 00225
- QIONG SANSHA YU 00227
- QIONG SANSHA YU 00229
- QIONG SANSHA YU 00302
“It is also worth noting that we have also seen the two People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) vessels in that particular location, the Second Thomas Shoal,” he said.
READ: China rammed, water cannoned PH resupply vessels – coast guard
“Although they are maintaining a certain distance away from the resupply contingent, but it is important for us to note that the PLA-N has also deployed these two vessels,” he added.
READ: China’s attacks makes gov’t ‘further steeled’ to defend WPS – Marcos
According to Tarriela, there were a total of 46 Chinese vessels observed in the area during the RoRe mission.
READ: NTF-WPS condemns China’s dangerous maneuvers, water cannon attack
Twenty-three of these were detected using the Automatic Identification System.
“That’s 46. This is the largest number of maritime forces that we have documented so far in the previous months,” he said.