By Junex Doronio
MANILA — As the Philippines is preparing for its historic participation in a Maritime Cooperative Activity in the West Philippine Sea with Australia, Japan, and the United States, the China Coast Guard (CCG) has again harassed the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) at the Rozul Reef within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
On Saturday (6 April 2024), the PCG reported that they and BFAR were harassed by the CCG while conducting operations at the Rozul Reef on Thursday (4 April 2024).
This developed as the Department of National Defense (DND) said the Philippines would join the Maritime Cooperative Activity in the West Philippine Sea with Australia, Japan, and the United States on Sunday (7 April 2024).
According to DND, the drills will involve maritime and air units from the four countries and will be done in a manner consistent with international and domestic laws and about the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other states.
For its part, the PCG claimed that their personnel and the BFAR were dropping floating aggregate devices (payao) when two CCG vessels (21551 and 21556), which were the “usual interdictors” in the resupply operation in Ayungin Shoal, arrived and started harassing Filipino fishing boats.
The PCG added that the CCG even pretended to use their water cannons to threaten the Filipino fishermen.
(el Amigo/MNM)
