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Task force calls out 'serious escalation' by China in West Philippine Sea

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="This handout photo from the Philippine Coast Guard shows a China Coast Guard vessel using a water cannon on a civilian boat contracted for a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal." src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/12/10/2023121-tarriela-water-cannon.jpg"/><figcaption>This handout photo from the Philippine Coast Guard shows a China Coast Guard vessel using a water cannon on a civilian boat contracted for a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal.</figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — The China Coast Guard&#x27;s actions against Philippine resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea are a &quot;serious escalation&quot; that casts doubt on Beijing&#x27;s commitment to a peaceful resolution of the sea row, a national task force said Monday.</p><p>Speaking at a Palace briefing on Monday, Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya of the National Security Council said Chinese vessels used water cannons and a long-range acoustic device on civilian ships over the weekend.</p><p>He called these, as well as the dangerous maneuvers to block the civilian convoys, a &quot;serious escalation on the part of the agents of the People&#x27;s Republic of China.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/10/23/no-one-but-ph-has-right-legal-basis-marcos-jr-reiterates-ph-claim-in-wps">&#x27;No one but PH has right, legal basis&#x27;: Marcos Jr. reiterates PH claim in WPS</a></li></ul><p>He added that the water cannons and a deliberate ramming caused significant damage to fisheries vessel Datu Tamblot off Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough, Panatag Shoal) on Saturday and to BRP Cabra and chartered boat Unaizah Mae 1 near Ayungin Shoal on Sunday.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2897575" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><div><strong>&#x27;DISINFORMATION FROM BEIJING&#x27;</strong></div><p>&quot;China&#x27;s claim that the small and wooden Unaizah Mae 1 intentionally rammed a CCG vessel is the height of disinformation,&quot; Malaya also said, adding this would be like claiming a tricycle would ram a bus.</p><p>&quot;The Filipino people and whole world have seen that the incidents of the past two days is a serious escalation on the part of the PRC,&quot; he said later in the briefing. </p><p>&quot;What we have been doing is standard operating procedure,&quot; he also said of the Philippine missions in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>Malaya added the NTF-West Philippine Sea is &quot;gravely concerned&quot; over Beijing&#x27;s disinformation campaign, including claims that the US is involved in the resupply missions.</p><p>He stressed that the missions to Bajo de Masinloc and to Ayungin Shoal are &quot;completely Filipino&quot; and use Philippine-flagged boats and Filipino personnel.</p><p>He said Beijing should exercise caution &quot;in making accusations without proof.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/12/11/23/china-aggression-shows-intent-in-taking-over-philippine-waters-expert">China aggression shows intent in taking over Philippine waters: expert</a></li></ul><div><strong>DOUBT OVER CHINA&#x27;S SINCERITY</strong></div><p>He added that the &quot;systematic and consistent manner&quot; that Beijing&#x27;s ships conduct illegal operations within the Philippines&#x27; exclusive economic zone and continental shelf &quot;puts into question and significant doubt the sincerity of [China&#x27;s] calls for peaceful dialogue.&quot;</p><p>The two sides have held regular bilateral dialogues and have announced a direct line meant to help deescalate tension in the South China Sea, part of which is the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>These announced mechanisms have not, however, been successful in easing tension between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/09/23/chinese-ships-try-to-stop-bfar-resupply-at-scarborough">Chinese ships, water cannon try to stop BFAR resupply at Scarborough</a></li></ul><p>The collision over the weekend was the second since October, when a Chinese maritime militia vessel was recorded on video attempting to block a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal. </p><p>&quot;We demand that China demonstrate once and for all that it is a responsible and trustworthy member of the international community,&quot; Malaya said as he urged Beijing to practice restraint in the tense waters.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2897041" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

'The Filipino people and whole world have seen that the incidents of the past two days are a serious escalation on the part of the PRC,' Malaya said.