Ched Rick Gatchalian

PCG Successfully Renders Assistance to Harassed Filipino Fishermen at Escoda Shoal Amid Aggressive Actions by Chinese Vessels
COURTESY: PCG

Article (news)

PH gov’t condemns China Coast Guard water cannon attack on Filipino fishermen

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATE) – The Philippine government has strongly condemned the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) use of water cannon against Filipino fishermen in Escoda Shoal or Sabina Shoal, calling the incident illegal and a violation of international law. National Maritime Council (NMC) spokesperson Undersecretary Alexander Lopez said Escoda Shoal is located about 70 nautical miles from Palawan, while it is over 600 nautical miles from China’s Hainan province.“Ang Escoda Shoal ay 120 kilometers or 70 nautical miles mula sa mainland o west ng Palawan Province. Pasok ito sa ating 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Sa Tsina naman, ito ay 1,200 kilometers or 648 nautical miles from Hainan. Napakalayo at labag sa UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” Lopez said in a televised interview on Monday.Lopez said the Philippines has exclusive rights over the waters and natural resources in the area, including fisheries, oil, and gas.He added that China has no legal basis to enforce “control measures” there.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/13/3-pinoy-fishermen-sustain-injuries-after-harassment-from-chinese-vessels-pcg-1435">Nation 3 fishermen injured in Chinese water cannon attack &#x27;in better condition&#x27;: NMC</a></div>“Walang karapatan at iligal ang presensya ng China Coast Guard sa Escoda Shoal base sa international law, lalo pa ng harassment sa pamamagitan ng mga agresibong pagsusuway at pagtira ng water cannon sa mga Pilipinong mapayapang nangingisda sa Escoda Shoal,” Lopez stressed.The Philippine Coast Guard reported on Saturday that three Filipino fishermen were injured after being directly hit by the CCG’s high-pressure water cannon. Three fishing boats were damaged.Aside from the CCG vessels, Chinese maritime militia vessels also harassed the Filipino fishermen by executing dangerous blocking maneuvers.“Ayon sa PCG, tatlong fishing boats ang may naiulat na pinsala, kaya lang hindi pa natin batid kung magkano ang mga nasira sa fishing boats na ito. Pagdating sa pampang, doon pa lang nila maeestima kung magkano ang nasira. Ito rin ay kasama sa ating hinihinging report o feedback para mabigyan natin ng sapat na ulat,” Lopez said.The government immediately dispatched two PCG vessels to assist the fishermen, providing medical aid, security, fuel, food, water and ice under the “Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda” Program.“Tamang tama naman na talagang pupuntahan sila doon para mabigyan ng suporta sa programang Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisdang Pilipino na programa ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” the official noted.“Dahil dito, nabigyan ng karampatang medical na attention ang mga nasugatang mangingisda sa insidente, at sa presensya ng ating PCG vessels, nabigyan din ang ating mga mangingisda ng sapat na seguridad o proteksyon sa kabila ng presensya ng CCG sa lugar na tila nagmamatyag sa di kalayuan,” he added. “Kasama rin dito ang pagbibigay ng karagdagang petrolyo o gasolina, mga pagkain, tubig at yelo para tumagal pa ang kanilang pangingisda sa karagatan ng Escoda Shoal.”“Ang pagdating din ng M/V Pamamalakaya ay malaking bagay dahil binibili na sa kanila ang mga huling isda imbes na dalhin pa sa kalupaan at muling bumalik sa laot para muling makapangisda,” Lopez further said.PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela earlier said this is the first time that the CCG aimed its water cannon directly to the boats of Filipino fishermen.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/13/3-pinoy-fishermen-sustain-injuries-after-harassment-from-chinese-vessels-pcg-1435">3 Filipino fishermen injured in Chinese ships&#x27; water cannon attack</a></div>Lopez agreed, adding that previous incidents were more distant, with only periodic spraying.“Tama ang sinabi ng PCG na ngayon lang direkta at malapitang pinatamaan ang ating mga mangingisda. Ngunit noong 2015, noong ako ay commander pa ng Western Command, meron na ring nag-water cannon sa ating mga mangingisda na CCG. Pero yung mga insidenteng iyon ay hindi malapitan. Paulan lang ang pagbuga ng tubig sa ating mga mangingisda,” Lopez said.He continued, “Ang nangyari sa Escoda ay talagang malapitan at direkta, kaya nasugatan ang tatlong mangingisda natin at nakasira ng mga sasakyang pandagat nila. Tayo ay nababahala at kinokondena ang pangyayaring ito.”According to Lopez, the presence of Chinese vessels in Escoda Shoal reflects Beijing’s sweeping claims in almost the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.“Ang kanilang presensya sa shoal ay nagpapahiwatig ng kanilang ambisyon na sakupin at angkinin ang kabuuan ng South China Sea, kasama ang West Philippine Sea,” he said. “Kinakalap na ang pormal na report sa PCG at Western Command para maging batayan ng Department of Foreign Affairs sa kanilang tamang diplomatic protest na ilalatag sa embahada ng Tsina dito sa bansa.”Despite the incident, Lopez assured Filipino fishermen that the government will continue to support and protect them, urging them not to be intimidated by Chinese forces and to continue fishing in the West Philippine Sea.“Sa ating mga kababayan, lalo sa mga bagong bayaning mangingisda, sa gabay at utos ng ating pangulo, bagama’t meron tayong hinaharap na malaking hamon sa West Philippine Sea, huwag po tayong mangamba at ipagpatuloy natin ang ating pangingisda sa West Philippine Sea. Nasa panig tayo ng legal at batas—international man o local—na lahat ng yamang dagat sa Pilipinas ay tayong mga Pilipino lamang ang dapat makinabang at makikinabang sa mahabang panahon,” Lopez said.He went on, “Ang gobyerno po ay mananalig at ipaglalaban sa inyo ang inyo at ating karapatang soberanya at hursidiksyon sa ating teritotoryo sa West Philippine Sea sa anumang legal at mapayapang pamamaraan.”China, for its part, maintains that Escoda Shoal is part of its territory, and accused the Philippines of taking “organized and orchestrated moves to send a large number of ships to make provocations and create trouble” in the area.“The Philippines’ so-called fishing ships, despite China’s repeated dissuasion and warning, have deliberately anchored in the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao and repeatedly conducted dangerous maneuvers including veering suddenly off course. The Philippine personnel even threatened China Coast Guard officers with knives who were carrying out rights-defending law enforcement activities,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.“The Philippines’ moves seriously infringe upon China’s sovereignty and rights and interests, violate international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and sabotage maritime peace and stability. It is legitimate, lawful, professional, restrained and beyond reproach for China to do what is necessary to safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. The Philippines needs to immediately stop its infringement, provocations and vilification, stop its endless self-directed stunts at sea, and refrain from challenging China’s firm resolve to safeguard our sovereignty and rights and interests,” it also said, adding that the US has no right to interfere in the issue.

Aside from the CCG vessels, Chinese maritime militia vessels also harassed the Filipino fishermen by executing dangerous blocking maneuvers.

Aside from the CCG vessels, Chinese maritime militia vessels also harassed the Filipino fishermen by executing dangerous blocking maneuvers.