Foreign missions air concern over new Chinese water cannoning in WPS

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, Philippine News Agency

Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) in the West Philippine Sea (File photo courtesy of PCG-BFAR)

MANILA – The foreign missions of the United States, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and New Zealand aired concern over the Chinese Coast Guard’s (CCG) latest use of water cannon against civilian Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Two vessels of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) conducting a routine marine scientific research mission near Pag-asa Cay 2 or Sandy Cay on May 21 were blocked, water cannoned, and sideswiped by a pair of CCG ships and two other maritime militias.

US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson described these as “aggressive actions” that “recklessly endangered lives and threaten regional stability.”

“We stand with our Philippine allies in support of international law and a free and open Indo-Pacific,” she said in a post on X on Thursday.

On Friday morning, the Canadian Embassy in Manila said it was alarmed by the incident and “strongly” opposed what it called China’s “coercive and intimidation activities” in the South China Sea.

“Canada is alarmed by China’s latest dangerous actions in the South China Sea, including the use of water cannons and ramming a civilian BFAR vessel conducting marine scientific research near Sandy Cay,” it said.

“We strongly oppose China’s coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea, including near Sandy Cay.”

The New Zealand Embassy in the Philippines added that these “dangerous actions” against a scientific vessel are “troubling” as the use of water cannons and contact between vessels risk safety at sea.

“Peaceful resolution of maritime disputes in accordance with UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) is fundamental to regional stability,” it said.

The European Union Delegation in Manila and Dutch Ambassador to the Philippines Marielle Geraedts conveyed their solidarity with the Philippines in upholding international law, including the UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling on the South China Sea.

“Freedom of navigation is important to us all. We are concerned about the use of watercanons and dangerous manouvres against civilian vessels today. The Netherlands stand with the Philippines in upholding UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral ruling,” Geraedts said on X.

British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils, meanwhile, said the United Kingdom condemned the acts.

“The UK condemns latest dangerous activity by the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippines civilian vessels near Sandy Cay today, risking lives & raising tensions. A worrying escalation of behaviour,” she said Thursday in a post over X. “International law & the legally binding 2016 Arbitral Award must be respected.”

Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya echoed concerns over the incident and reaffirmed Japan’s firm commitment to defending an open Indo-Pacific.

“Very concerned about the dangerous actions including use of water cannons against Philippine BFAR vessel. Japan upholds the rule of law & stands firm in defending a Free ＆ Open Indo-Pacific,” he said.

The National Maritime Council said Friday that China’s latest “aggressive actions” occurred within the territorial sea of the Philippines in the area of Pag-asa Island and Pag-asa Cay 2.

The mission was conducting routine sampling and collection of data that would be used for national programs on food security, fisheries management, and marine environmental protection.

The Philippines has sovereignty and jurisdiction over Pag-asa Island and all of its cays, which form part of the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea.