MANILA — In what could be the latest escalation of tensions in the West Philippine Sea, at least three vessels belonging to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) have faced continuous water cannon attacks from a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship off Scarborough Shoal on Saturday (09 Dec 2023).

The incident involves the BRP Datu Sanday (3002), BRP Datu Bankaw (3004), and BRP Datu Tamblot (3005), engaged by CCG 3302 and 3305, along with four ships from the China maritime militia.

According to security expert Ray Powell, this confrontation has persisted for the past three hours.

As of the latest update, Chinese ships are still harassing the Philippine vessels, which were on a supply mission to support Filipino fishermen in the area.

(Amado Inigo/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

“When you’re weak, pretend that you’re strong.” — Sun Tzu

APPARENTLY APPLYING THE “ART OF WAR” by military genius Sun Tzu, China just laughed at the removal by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) of the floating barrier installed by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) in Scarborough Shoal following the marching order of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año.

“What the Philippines did looks like nothing more than self-amusement,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in a press conference on Wednesday, September 27.

Wang issued the statement when asked if it’s true that China removed the remnants of its floating barrier from the shoal as reported by the PCG and if China’s position on its claim over Scarborough Shoal has somehow changed.

“I would like to reiterate that Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal) has always been China’s territory… China will continue to safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests over Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal),” he maintained.

Earlier, PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela said, “The decisive action of the PCG to remove the barrier aligns with international law and the Philippines’ sovereignty over the shoal.”

BDM or Scarborough Shoal, located 229.6 kilometers (124 nautical miles) away from Zambales province, is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and is considered one of the traditional fishing grounds for Filipinos.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) defines an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as generally extending 200 nautical miles from shore, within which the coastal state has the right to explore and exploit, and the responsibility to conserve and manage, both living and non-living resources.

“The 2016 Arbitral Award has affirmed that BDM is the traditional fishing ground of Filipino fishermen. Thus, any obstruction hindering the livelihoods of Filipino fisherfolk in the shoal violates international law. It also infringes on the Philippines’ sovereignty over BDM,” Tarriela pointed out. (ai/mnm)

Image Courtesy of BBC News

By Junex Doronio

HEEDING THE MARCHING ORDER of President and Commander-in-Chief Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday night bravely removed the dangerous floating barrier which it said the Chinese Coast Guard placed in the southeast portion of the Bajo de Masinloc (BDM) or Scarborough Shoal, well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Posting on X (formerly Twitter), PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela said, “The decisive action of the PCG to remove the barrier aligns with international law and the Philippines’ sovereignty over the shoal.”

Located 229.6 kilometers (124 nautical miles) away from Zambales province, the BDM or Scarborough Shoal is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and is considered one of the traditional fishing grounds for Filipinos.

“The 2016 Arbitral Award has affirmed that BDM is the traditional fishing ground of Filipino fishermen. Thus, any obstruction hindering the livelihoods of Filipino fisherfolk in the shoal violates international law. It also infringes on the Philippines’ sovereignty over BDM,” Tarriela stressed.

On Monday evening, September 25, the PCG conducted a special operation to remove the “hazardous floating barrier” in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) upon the instructions of President Marcos and Año, who also heads the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea.

But China argued that Scarborough Shoal, which it calls Huangyan Dao, has always been its territory, and thus it has “indisputable sovereignty” over the island. (ai/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

TO REMOVE OR NOT TO REMOVE the floating barrier allegedly installed by China in Scarborough Shoal?

This is the nagging question that must be answered by the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who’s also the Commander-in-Chief.

On Monday, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela noted that the diplomatic process needs to be done in connection with the floating barrier.

“Should the NTF-WPS recommend to the President kung ano man ang gagawin nating action dito (whatever the action is), the PCG, BFAR [Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources], and even the Armed Forces of the Philippines will comply kung ano man ang magiging desisyon dito ng ating (whatever the decision is of our) national government,” Tarriela said in his interview with GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita.

He clarified that the PCG has yet to consult with PBBM and the national government regarding what must be done to the floating barrier.

“We gave the report already to the NTF-WPS wherein the Department of Justice, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of National Defense are all part of this inter-agency task force and chaired by the National Security Adviser,” Tarriela disclosed. (ai/mnm)