PH condemns China Coast Guard for water cannon Attack on BFAR ships near Pag-asa

DAVAO CITY (May 21)— The Philippines strongly condemned the China Coast Guard (CCG) on Tuesday for using water cannons and ramming a Filipino research vessel near Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) in the West Philippine Sea, damaging the ship and endangering civilian lives.

The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) said its vessels BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3002) and BRP Datu Pagbuaya (MMOV 3003) were conducting a legal marine scientific survey when a Chinese vessel, CCG 21559, attacked.

Around 9:13 a.m., CCG 21559 fired water cannons and sideswiped BRP Datu Sanday twice, damaging its port bow and smokestack.

“This is the first time the CCG used water cannons against BFAR ships near Pag-asa,” DA-BFAR said, calling the act “dangerous, aggressive, and a violation of international law.” Despite the incident, the research team completed its mission.

Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard said the harassment will not stop the country from asserting its sovereign rights: “We will continue our lawful operations in our waters.”

The DFA is expected to file a diplomatic protest, while U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson called the CCG’s actions “reckless and unlawful,” reaffirming U.S. support under the Mutual Defense Treaty.

Pag-asa Cay 2 lies within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone under UNCLOS. However, China continues to assert sweeping claims over the area despite the 2016 arbitral ruling rejecting its “nine-dash line.”