CHINA COAST GUARD FIRES WATER CANNON AT RESUPPLY BOAT IN AYUNGIN

THE National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea reported another attempt by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels to obstruct routine resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal.

BRP Sierra Madre, a former US Navy ship the Philippines grounded in 1999, is in the Second Thomas Shoal, a hotly-disputed atoll known as Ayungin Shoal to Manila and claimed by Beijing as Ren’ai Reef.

“CCG vessel 5203 deployed water cannon against Philippine supply vessel M/L Kalayaan in an illegal though unsuccessful attempt to force the latter to alter course” said the (NTF-WPS).

Supply boats Unaizah Mae 1 and M/L Kalayaan were also subjected to extremely reckless and dangerous harassment at close proximity by CCG boats inside Ayungin Shoal Lagoon during their approach to BRP Sierra Madre.

The supply mission was carried out successfully despite the blockade, Filipino authorities said.

Philippine’ authorities said Beijing’s actions have not only “put the lives of our people at risk,” but have “put into question and significant doubt the sincerity of its calls for peaceful dialogue.”.

China said it responded appropriately under maritime law after the Philippines’s vessel trespassed into what it said were Chinese waters.

The Philippine Embassy in Beijing has demarched the Chinese Foreign Ministry and protested the actions.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has also reached out to them and conveyed our protest directly through the Martime Communications Mechanism.