Comments from a Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson following this week’s collision in the South China Sea.
China has been branded a “bully” and a violator of international law after its vessel used a water cannon to blow up a Philippine ship in the South China Sea.
sky news He was on board the BRP Bagakay. When a Chinese ship sprayed water and caused serious damage.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriera told Sky News that this week’s collision was the first time China had carried out “an attack of this magnitude” against its own vessels.
“The metal parts and the railings were bent. The canopy was also destroyed. So this was a surprise to us as well.” China “He never shied away from violence,” he said.
“This fully justifies us calling the People’s Republic of China a bullying country.”
of Philippines The Coast Guard was on a resupply mission to Scarborough Shoal to deliver food and fuel to Filipino fishermen when they were attacked.
The sunken reef is in disputed waters. Although China claims sovereignty over the reef, it is much closer to the Philippines and within its legally recognized exclusive economic zone.
The vessel Sky News was on was just 600 meters from the shallows, the closest the Coast Guard had ever come to the shallows.
Asked if this shallow water mission was a provocative move by the Philippine Coast Guard, Admiral Tarriera said they were not “pecking the bear” but “driving the bear out of our territory.” He denied that it might be the case.
Sky witnesses conflict between China and Philippines
The Philippines has stepped up patrols in the area in recent months under the direction of President Bongbong Marcos, reasserting its claim to the shoal.
It sparked fears of open conflict. Although neither side wants it at the moment, the threat of open conflict is growing.
When asked what the final battle is for the Philippines, Admiral Tarriera said the country’s priority is to “tell the world” about China’s aggression.
He said China’s second goal is for “like-minded countries” to bring China “in step and respect international law.”
“If not, it’s everyone’s loss,” he added.
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The Philippine government’s policy is not to resist water cannons on Chinese ships, and Admiral Tarriera insisted that policy remains in place after the collision.
The Government also remains strongly committed to protecting the waters in which it believes it has every right to operate.
“We are not going to surrender, we are not going to surrender one square inch of our territory,” Admiral Tarriera insisted.
The Chinese government said the measures taken by its coast guard were “necessary.”
At the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s daily press briefing, Spokesperson Lin Jian said the actions of the coast guard were “professional, appropriate and lawful.”
