China vessel damages BRP Magbanua; PH ‘seriously concerned’

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

BULLYING TACTIC. A China Coast Guard vessel (left) rams into Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Teresa Magbanua in Sabina (Escoda) Shoal, about 75 nautical miles from Palawan, Saturday afternoon (Aug. 31, 2024). PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said China carried out the dangerous maneuvers despite being unprovoked. (Screenshot from PCG video via PNA)

MANILA – The Philippines expressed its “serious concern” over the latest ramming incident in Escoda Shoal, National Maritime Council (NMC) spokesperson Vice Adm. Alexander Lopez said on Saturday afternoon.

This was after China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5205 on Saturday repeatedly rammed into BRP-Teresa Magbanua, the biggest ship of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) deployed in April to Escoda Shoal, which is about 75 nautical miles from Palawan.

“Well, the position of the government, especially the National Maritime Council, we take this with serious concern,” Lopez said in a press briefing following the latest collision between a CCG vessel and a PCG vessel.

The BRP Teresa Magbanua sustained damage in its bridge wing and freeboard. No injuries to the crew were reported.

As of this posting, the Filipino ship remained anchored inside the Sabina Shoal.

Lopez said a report will be submitted to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for appropriate action.

“This is part of the reports that we will be submitting to the Department of Foreign Affairs, and then the DFA will come up with its own study to come up with the most appropriate actions,” he said.

What happened

PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the vessel lifted its anchor 8 a.m. with the intention of “loitering around Escoda Shoal.”

When it was already on the move at 12:07 p.m., CCG vessel 5205 carried out the “dangerous maneuver resulting to its direct ramming” into the port bow of BRP Teresa Magbanua.

The Chinese ship turned around, then rammed the PCG vessel anew, hitting the starboard quarter.

“After this, it went around and then did another ramming to the PCG vessel. On the port beam of MRRV-9701, the CCG vessel 5205 has once again directly and intentionally rammed the PCG vessel,” Tarriela narrated.

In a drone shot presented before the press, Tarriela showed that BRP Teresa Magbanua was originally surrounded by People’s Liberation Army Navy tugboats 175 and 185, CCG vessels 4301 and 3104, and Chinese maritime militias.

As the Filipino ship heaved up its anchor, CCG vessel 5205 joined the fray.

Illegal presence

Lopez said China’s presence in Escoda Shoal is illegal, considering that it is “well within our 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.”

He added that the PCG, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea, is merely exercising its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Escoda Shoal.

“So, the Chinese Coast Guard vessels are the ones illegally [patrolling]. ‘Yung presence nila diyan ang (Their presence there is) illegal. We are there on a legal basis dahil atin ‘yun. Hindi tayo puwedeng magpaalam sa sariling bahay natin (because that is ours. We do not ask for permission because that’s ours). Let us be very clear about it,” he said.

Lopez earlier said the Philippine government is eyeing to file a case before an international body against China following the recent “unlawful and aggressive maneuvers” by CCG ships against PCG vessels in waters adjacent to Escoda Shoal.