The embedded reporters captured images and movies of CCG and militia vessels blocking the resupply mission’s ships, together with the PCG’s BRP Sindangan and BRP Cabra, which had been escorting the Uniza Might 4. The international reporters had been on board the BRP Sindangan whereas their Philippine counterparts had been observing from the BRP Cabra.
Later, extra CCG and militia ships arrived on the shoal, the place they prevented the Philippine wood provide boat from getting nearer to the BRP Sierra Madre. The incident proceeded like a cat-and-mouse chase till two CCG vessels fired their water cannons on the Philippine boat, inflicting extreme injury to it and minor accidents to a few personnel on board.
Edward Stephan Bangubung, a Philippine freelance photographer, mentioned what he witnessed was a life-threatening incident.
“I’m excited to cowl the resupply mission however I’m afraid too,” Bangubung mentioned, noting that whereas the Philippine provide boat was on the best way to its vacation spot, two PCG ships had been shadowed by a Chinese language Navy ship.
Filipino journalist’s AI software for in-depth reporting challenges trade fears
Filipino journalist’s AI software for in-depth reporting challenges trade fears
One other journalist overlaying the mission, Marconi Navales, mentioned that he additionally noticed how China tried “aggressively” to cease Manila’s resupply mission. Navales mentioned he took pictures of a gap on a CCG vessel when it rammed one of many escort ships.
“We had been surrounded by Chinese language ships in the course of the ocean. It’s important to take note of which half they’re going to hit … from the entrance or on the again,” Navales mentioned.
“The Philippines was outnumbered. From my finish, I used to be afraid. I noticed how the Philippine coastguard and navy tried their finest [to counter CCG’s actions],” he added.
Maritime safety professional Ray Powell instructed This Week in Asia that China has no grand designs for the Second Thomas Shoal apart from to chase the Philippine Navy away from it.
“With the Mischief Reef so close by, there’s no actual want for an additional Chinese language base. The BRP Sierra Madre poses no menace to China’s place,” mentioned Powell, who’s a retired US Air Drive officer.
Beijing is betting on boosting nationwide status for its blockade technique and wished to exhibit to Manila that resistance is futile, in accordance with Powell.
“Its viewers isn’t just Manila however each different regional nation that may dare to take its stand. To cite the outdated Chinese language saying, Beijing goals to ‘kill the rooster to scare the monkey’,” he mentioned.
Signed in 1951, the treaty calls on the Philippines and the US to help one another in instances of aggression by an exterior energy. The Pentagon had mentioned the US was ready to help Manila if it had been to invoke the treaty.
Political analyst Sherwin Ona, an affiliate professor at De La Salle College, mentioned the most recent developments are very regarding and didn’t foresee an finish to China’s rising aggression.
“I imagine that China will proceed this belligerent behaviour within the West Philippine Sea due to its strategic intent. This implies management of the [South China Sea] as a part of the nationwide rejuvenation the place territorial integrity is paramount,” Ona mentioned, referring to Manila’s title for South China Sea waters that lie inside its unique financial zone.
“Beijing will proceed to push its historic and sovereignty narrative till it’s normalised by way of its authorized and diplomatic efforts,” he added. Manila should not relent in its efforts to internationalise the scenario and stay clear in coping with points within the West Philippine Sea, Ona mentioned.
Philippine Defence Chief Gilberto Teodoro has urged Beijing to take its claims of sovereignty within the South China Sea to worldwide arbitration
“If China is just not afraid to state its claims to the world, then why don’t we arbitrate below worldwide regulation?,” Teodoro instructed reporters on Monday, including that Manila wouldn’t budge on its place.
US to fund a port on Philippine island close to Taiwan. What’s going to or not it’s used for?
US to fund a port on Philippine island close to Taiwan. What’s going to or not it’s used for?
Teresita Daza, a spokeswoman for the Division of Overseas Affairs, has summoned China’s chargé d’affaires within the nation following the most recent standoff at Ayungin Shoal within the West Philippine Sea, referring to Manila’s designation for the Second Thomas Shoal.
“China’s continued interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful actions in its unique financial zone is unacceptable. It infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction,” Daza mentioned.
On Sunday, Nationwide Safety Adviser Eduardo Año, who additionally chairs the Nationwide Process Drive for the West Philippine Sea, mentioned Manila wouldn’t be deterred from resupplying its army outpost within the shoal.
“We won’t be intimidated as a result of it’s our proper and we’ve to guard our troopers, our sailors there at BRP Sierra Madre,” he mentioned.
Washington has condemned China’s “harmful actions” over the incident, arguing the actions not solely undermine regional stability but in addition show Beijing’s blatant disregard for worldwide regulation.
US Division of State spokesman Matthew Miller mentioned the actions have critically hindered the supply of important provides to Philippine troopers.
“The Folks’s Republic of China ships’ repeated employment of water cannons and reckless blocking manoeuvres resulted in accidents to Filipino service members and important injury to their resupply vessel, rendering it motionless,” he mentioned.
“This incident marks solely the most recent within the PRC’s repeated obstruction of Philippine vessels’ train of excessive seas freedom of navigation and disruption of provide traces to this longstanding outpost,” Miller added.
A Philippine civilian coalition known as Atin Ito! (“This Is Ours!”) has additionally denounced China’s newest actions.
Akbayan Social gathering President Rafaela David, a co-convenor of Atin Ito, famous that the CCG’s “unjustified assault” utilizing water cannons in Philippine waters occurred simply 4 months after the same incident.
He mentioned, “We demand an official apology from China for endangering the lives of our frontliners and violating worldwide regulation. Absent an apology, the Chinese language ambassador should go away our nation.”