The AFP said China Coast Guard vessel BN21551 also used "dangerous maneuvers" against civilian resupply boat Unaiza May 4.

China Coast Guard used water cannon on resupply boat — AFP

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE 2)</strong> — Chinese vessels again used water cannon against a civilian vessel chartered to resupply Philippine troops on the BRP Sierra Madre, a commissioned Philippine Navy ship on Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on social media on Saturday.</p><p>In a post on X that included videos of the incident, the AFP said the China Coast Guard directed water cannon at the Unaiza May 4, a ship that had previously been damaged by water cannon while on the same mission, early Saturday morning.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BJMVFFTtTSk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Before the water cannon incident, the AFP said, China Coast Guard vessel BN21551 had used &quot;dangerous maneuvers&quot; against the civilian resupply boat, including crossing its bow and a &quot;reverse blocking maneuver...causing near collision.</p><p>In a statement later Saturday, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said the water cannon caused severe damage to the civilian supply boat and injuries to Filipinos on board.</p><p>It added that the Chinese vessels &quot;have once again placed at risk, caused severe damage to property, and caused physical harm to Filipinos&quot; on Unaiza May 4.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/13/why-philippines-uses-civilian-boat-for-its-ayungin-shoal-resupply-missions-1226"></a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/13/why-philippines-uses-civilian-boat-for-its-ayungin-shoal-resupply-missions-1226">READ: Why Philippines uses civilian boat for its resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal</a></div><p>It added the actions of the China Goast Guard &quot;belie (China&#x27;s) hollow claims to peace, dialogue and adherence to international law.&quot;</p><p>The AFP, in a statement earlier Saturday, stressed that the Unaiza May 4 was on &quot;a routine operation aimed at sustaining and rotating military personnel at Ayungin Shoal.&quot;</p><p>The mission was meant to maintain a full complement on the BRP Sierra Madre after one of the personnel on board had to be evacuated for medical treatment.</p><p>&quot;Personnel are being rotated in to ensure that BRP Sierra Madre&#x27;s mission posture remains uncompromised,&quot; the AFP also said.</p><p>The operation, they added will establish the armed forces&#x27; presence in &quot; the continued protection of Philippine sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Previous water cannon incident<br/></strong></div><p>Earlier this month, four crew on board Unaiza May 4 were injured when two China Coast Guard ships simultaneously fired water cannon at it, shattering the windshield.</p><p>The Philippines also said the China Coast Guard caused two collisions during that incident.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-active" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zQzWd3W5-BY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>&quot;We cannot view this in any way but in the most serious way,&quot; President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said of the incident.</p><p>The Philippines stands by a 2016 Hague ruling that found that China&#x27;s sweeping nine-dash line claim over a large part of the South China Sea has no basis in international law.<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/10/can-manila-diffuse-tensions-in-the-south-china-sea-1015"></a></p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/10/can-manila-diffuse-tensions-in-the-south-china-sea-1015">RELATED: Can Manila diffuse tensions in the South China Sea?</a></div><p>The West Philippine Sea is the part of the South China Sea within the Philippines&#x27; exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.</p><p>China in turn accused the Philippine ships of &quot;illegally&quot; intruding into what it says is its sovereign waters.</p><p>It also accused a Philippine vessel of intentionally ramming its own.</p><p>The US — the Philippines&#x27; treaty ally — the United Kingdom, the European Union and other security partners have called out previous attempts by Chinese vessels to impede Philippine boats in the West Philippines with aggressive maneuvers and water cannon.</p>

<p>The AFP said China Coast Guard vessel BN21551 also used "dangerous maneuvers" against civilian resupply boat Unaiza May 4.</p>

China Coast Guard used water cannon on resupply boat — AFP | ABS-CBN

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China Coast Guard used water cannon on resupply boat — AFP

China Coast Guard used water cannon on resupply boat — AFP

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 23, 2024 10:56 AM PHT

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Updated Mar 23, 2024 03:49 PM PHT

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West Philippine Sea

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Ayungin Shoal

BRP Siera Madre

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