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PCG: China violated 3 int’l rules in Ayungin Shoal collisions
‘DEPLORABLE’ ACT. Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela says on Monday (Oct.
23, 2023) the China Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia vessels violated three international maritime rules during two separate collisions at Ayungin Shoal on Sunday. In a press briefing at the National Security Council office in Quezon City, Tarriela said the Chinese vessels violated the rules under the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 of which China is also a signatory state. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)
MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday accused China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese maritime militia vessels (CMMVs) of violating three international maritime rules during two separate collisions at Ayungin Shoal on Sunday.
PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Commodore Jay Tarriela said the Chinese vessels violated the rules under the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (COLREGs) of which China is also a signatory state.
“The first one [violated] is Rule 2 or ‘the responsibility of the vessel.’ This rule emphasized that nothing in the COLREGs can absolve any vessel from the duty to avoid a collision,” Tarriela said in a press conference at the National Security Council office in Quezon City.
Deliberately blocking a vessel, he said, not only increases the risk of collision but also disregards the “fundamental principle of taking action to prevent a potential collision.”
Another rule violated by China, he said, was Rule 7 or “the risk of collision” which requires every vessel to “use all available means appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions to determine if a risk of collision exists.”
“Rule 7 is considered in conjunction with other relevant rules and factors, such as Rules 5 (look-out), 6 (safe speed), and 8 (action to avoid collision),” he said.
He said the Chinese vessels also violated Rule 18A or “the responsibilities between vessels” which requires vessels to keep out of the way of another vessel if the latter has the right of way.
“By deliberately blocking a vessel, you are not allowing the other vessel to proceed in accordance with their right of way,” he said.
READ: DFA summons Chinese envoy; protests latest Ayungin incident
He noted that the incident has shown escalating action from CMMVs that were previously limited to supporting the CCG through blocking maneuvers.
“For the first time, the Chinese maritime militia vessels are also doing such dangerous maneuvers. That even collided with our PCG vessel. Before, they were just taking orders from the CCG,” he said.
He said an investigation is ongoing to assess the damage incurred by BRP Cabra from the collision with the CMMV.
“It is not something that we can say is a scratch on the paint. Malalim po yung tama niya (It was a deep hit). So, we are still going to evaluate how it affected the integrity of the hull of our vessel.
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He said there were five CCG vessels, eight CMMVs, and two People’s Liberation Army Navy vessels who participated in the shadowing, dangerous maneuvers and blocking of the supply contingent from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
On Sunday, a CCG vessel collided with Unaiza May 2 — a private resupply boat chartered by the AFP — during a blocking maneuver it attempted at about 10.5 nautical miles from Ayungin Shoal.
Another collision occurred between BRP Cabra and a CMMV at about 6.4 nautical miles from Ayungin Shoal.
