MANILA – Two Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels, BRP Datu Pagbuaya and BRP Datu Bankaw, suspended their marine scientific research (MSR) and sand sampling operations in the Pag-Asa cays after encountering harassment from China Coast Guard (CCG) ships and a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) helicopter on Friday morning.
The incident involved CCG vessels 4106, 5103, and 4202; four smaller CCG boats; and a PLAN helicopter (tail number 24). The BFAR mission aimed to conduct research and collect sand samples from Sandy Cay and nearby sandbars, located five to six nautical miles off Pag-Asa Island.
According to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, the harassment included “aggressive maneuvers” by the CCG vessels, which violated international maritime collision prevention regulations.
The PLAN helicopter added to the provocation by flying dangerously low over BFAR inflatable boats transporting personnel, creating hazardous conditions due to the rotor wash.
“Due to the continuous harassment and disregard for safety by Chinese maritime forces, BFAR and PCG regrettably suspended their survey operations,” Tarriela said in a press briefing on Saturday. He described the actions as “aggressive and escalatory.”
This marks the second time this year that PLAN helicopters have hovered over Philippine government vessels, with the first incident occurring 70 nautical miles off Zambales.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ed De Vega announced that another diplomatic protest would be filed following the incident, emphasizing that such actions are unacceptable.
Pag-Asa Island and its surrounding cays have been the site of regular sand sampling by Philippine authorities to monitor environmental degradation.
The escalating tensions underscore the Philippines’ ongoing challenges in asserting its maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea.
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