A Chinese cutter blasted a Philippine fisheries vessel with its water cannon at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Tuesday morning, officials in Manila said on Tuesday.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, a civilian department meant to assist and regulate Philippine fishing efforts, said two offshore vessels were harassed by two cutters from the China Coast Guard and a warship from the People’s Liberation Army Navy. According to the agency, BRP Datu Cabaylo (MMOV-3001) and BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV-3002) were at Scarborough Shoal to resupply fishermen fishing near the disputed maritime feature.
A video released by Philippine state media provider People’s Television Network depicted the China Coast Guard cutter 3301 deploying its water cannons against Datu Cabaylo. Despite Chinese attempts to impede the Philippine civilian vessels through the use of water cannons and dangerous maneuvers, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said that their vessels were able to support the country’s fishermen in the area successfully.
[EXCLUSIVE] PANOORIN: Dinikitan nang halos 70 metro ng barko ng Chinese Coast Guard (CGG) na may bow number 3301 ang BRP Datu Cabaylo habang patungo ang barko ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) sa Panatag Shoal para magsagawa ng resupply mission.
1/3 pic.twitter.com/zV2HtNyu72
— PTVph (@PTVph) October 8, 2024
Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Vice Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad told reporters of the incident following an Armed Forces of the Philippines presser that revealed the presence of 190 Chinese ships within the Philippine exclusive economic zone, including 28 cutters and warships from the China Coast Guard and People’s Liberation Army Navy near Second Thomas, Sabina, and Scarborough Shoals.
This is the latest incident between the two countries over Scarborough Shoal. Known to the Philippines as Bajo de Masinloc and by China as Huangyan Dao, the disputed South China Sea maritime feature has been a constant flashpoint since the 2012 standoff, which saw Beijing effectively occupy the shoal. While China has de facto occupied Scarborough since then, incidents over the feature have increased within the last year with Chinese forces attempting to solidify its claims through the use of dangerous maneuvers, water cannons, and ramming attacks to force out Manila’s vessels. Philippine civic groups have also attempted to sail to the shoal to protest China’s occupation in May.
The incident occurred on the same day that the Philippines kicked off Exercise Sama Sama 2024, a multilateral naval exercise including Canada, Australia, Japan, France, and the U.S. Participants include BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), BRP Waray (LC-288), BRP Nestor Reinoso (PC 380), HMCS Vancouver (FFH-331), USS Howard (DDG-83), and numerous maritime patrol and search and rescue aircraft from the U.S. and Japan.
Washington and Manila are also currently collaborating on humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts in Northern Luzon following Typhoon Krathon. While Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia arrived in country earlier this week in preparation for the KAMANDAG drills,
USNI News understands that the unit is currently assisting relief efforts. Marine Corps C-130s and MV-22s have also been seen operating in the country’s north, including Batanes, an island chain owned by Manila in the Luzon Strait.