CHINA WATER CANNONS PH RESUPPLY BOAT ANEW

THE China Coast Guard (CCG) on Saturday fired with water cannons a Philippine resupply boat  en route to bring fresh supplies to Filipino troops manning the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Philippine resupply boat Unaizah May 4 (UM4) sustained “heavy damage” after the Saturday’s water cannon attack.

In a post at X, the AFP said CCG vessel 21551 initially performed a dangerous maneuver of “crossing the bow” against UM4 at 6:08 a.m. on Saturday.

At about 7:09 a.m., the CCG made a “reverse blocking maneuver” that caused a near collision as the resupply boat was approaching Ayungin Shoal.

The CCG then began blasting water cannons at UM4 at 7:59 a.m., “deliberately targeting and hitting the supply boat.”

At 8:38 a.m., the UM4 was eventually subjected to “direct water cannoning” by two CCG vessels while two Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels were simultaneously blocking the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Cabra (MRRV 4409), one of the designated escort vessels.

“The UM4 supply boat sustained heavy damages at around 8:52 a.m. due to the continued blasting of water cannons from the CCG vessels,” the AFP said. 

A video of the incident, posted by the AFP on X, showed that almost half of UM4’s roof deck was torn off from the impact of the water blasts.

PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea, said BRP Cabra was “impeded and encircled” by CCG vessel 21551, along with the CMM vessels bearing bow numbers 00036 and 00314.

“MRRV 4409 has been isolated from the resupply boat due to the irresponsible and provocative behavior of the Chinese maritime forces, who have shown a disregard for the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea,” he said in a statement.

At 9:53 a.m., BRP Cabra eventually maneuvered and reached UM4 to provide assistance to the resupply boat.

By 11:59 a.m., the navy crew with supplies arrived at the starboard side of the BRP Sierra Madre. 

The AFP said UM4 could not continue its course as the CMM vessel, assisted by Chinese RHIBs, installed floating barriers to prevent further entry to the shoal. 

Despite China’s blocking maneuvers, the AFP announced the success of the RoRe mission.  

The UM4 was the same chartered supply boat which was water cannoned by two CCG vessels on  March 5 in the same area.

The supply boat sustained damage and five Navy personnel, including AFP’s Western Command chief, Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, were hurt in that water cannon attack.