LIST: Incidents Of Chinese ‘Bullying’ In The West Philippine Sea
There have been incidents where Chinese Coast Guard, Chinese maritime militia and alleged civilian Chinese fishing boats bullied Philippine Coast Guard and civilian fishing and supply vessels. Here’s a list of some of the acts of harassment:
VIA WATER CANNON
Jan. 27, 2014
A Chinese coast guard ship used a water cannon on Jan. 27, 2014 to drive Filipino fishermen out of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, showing aggressive enforcement of new Chinese fisheries rules, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Nov. 16, 2021
Three Chinese coast guard vessels forced a Philippine resupply mission in the West Philippine Sea to abort by blocking and spraying with water canon two supply boats on their way to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal on Nov. 16, 2021.
Aug. 5, 2023
On Aug. 5, 2023, a Chinese coast guard vessel trained its powerful water cannon on a boat hired by the military to bring supplies to Marines deployed on BRP Sierra Madre which ran aground on Second Thomas Shoal or Ayungin Shoal.
VIA POINTING OF MILITARY-GRADE LASER
Feb. 6, 2023
The government accused a Chinese coast guard ship of hitting a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel with a military-grade laser and temporarily blinding some of its crew in the West Philippine Sea on Feb. 6, 2023, calling it a “blatant” violation of Manila’s sovereign rights.
The Chinese ship also maneuvered dangerously close, about 137 meters (449 feet), to block the Philippine patrol vessel BRP Malapascua from approaching Ayungin (Second Thomas Shoal), a submerged reef that has been occupied by Philippine forces, the PCG said in a statement.
June 30, 2023
China Coast Guard vessels and militia engaged and “pursued” two Philippine ships in a resupply mission on June 30, according to a former United States Air Force official.
PCG vessels BRP Malabrigo and BRP Malapascua were escorting a small boat on a resupply mission to Philippine Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre when they reportedly encountered “an armada” of CCG militia.
‘INTENTIONAL’ RAMMING
A Chinese coast guard vessel rammed three Philippine fishing vessels off Panatag Shoal a week before it was reported on Feb. 4, 2015.
June 9, 2019
On June 9, 2019, Filipino fishing boat Gem-Ver 1 sank after being rammed by a Chinese vessel near Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea. The offending vessel abandoned the Filipino boat with 22 crew members, leaving them to the “mercy of the elements,” according to the Department of National Defense.
Envoy: Pinoy Fishermen’s Abandonment Had ‘Negative Impact’ On Phl-China Ties
