Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

Maricar Datuin

Jeff Caparas

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765868603400597483482_122246513066183067_8820420716261776325_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">China uses water cannon against Filipino fishermen in Escoda Shoal on Dec. 12. <em>Jay Tarriela/Facebook</em></span></span></span>MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Tuesday that even a Chinese maritime militia vessel—disguised as a civilian fishing boat—used water cannon against Filipino fishermen in the vicinity of Escoda or Sabina Shoal last weekend.</div><p>“Here is your Chinese Maritime Militia pretending to be a civilian fishing vessel also using water cannon against a Filipino wooden fishing boat as [it] escape the China Coast Guard vessels dangerous harassment,” PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a social media post.</p><p><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/13/3-pinoy-fishermen-sustain-injuries-after-harassment-from-chinese-vessels-pcg-1435">Three Filipino fishermen were injured</a> after being directly hit by the CCG’s high-pressure water cannon on Friday, December 12.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/15/3-fishermen-injured-in-chinese-water-cannon-attack-in-better-condition-nmc-1447">3 fishermen injured in Chinese water cannon attack &#x27;in better condition&#x27;: NMC</a></div><p>Two fishing boats were severely damaged.</p><p>Tarriela asserted that ordinary Filipino fishermen in wooden boats could not provoke heavily armed, steel-hulled China Coast Guard vessels, much less maritime militia vessels.</p><p>“It strains logic to suggest that ordinary Filipino fishermen on wooden boats are somehow ‘organized and orchestrated’ and can be provocative vis-a-vis the massive, armed and steel-hulled China Coast Guard vessels,” Tarriela said.</p><p>He went on, “Common sense alone debunks this narrative: How could unarmed fishermen realistically threaten or provoke such heavily equipped forces?”</p><p>“Moreover, claims that Filipino fishermen were carrying knives are contradicted by evidence showing CCG vessels firing water cannons at close range, injuring three fishermen, damaging boats, and deliberately cutting the anchor lines of Philippine fishing vessels—endangering lives and livelihoods,” the official added.</p><p>Tarriela criticized China’s assertion of “indisputable sovereignty” over Escoda Shoal.</p><p>The shoal is around 140 kilometers from Palawan, while it is about 1,200 kilometers from Hainan Province, China’s nearest landmass.</p><p>“If China refuses to recognize the 2016 Arbitral Award invalidating its expansive claims, it should at least honor its commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea—a treaty it has ratified—that says LTEs are not subject to territorial sovereignty,” Tarriela said.</p><p>The PCG welcomed the stand of the United States in calling out Beijing’s “barbaric, illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions” in the West Philippine Sea, noting that the international community recognizes that Filipino fishermen were the victims, not the aggressors.</p><p>“Despite the United States being the Philippines&#x27; oldest treaty ally, it never interfered in the maritime disputes in the South China Sea,” Tarriela said. “Every law-abiding nation is expected to stand for what is right and lawful.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/16/teodoro-condemns-dangerous-inhumane-actions-of-chinese-forces-vs-filipino-fishers-1205">Teodoro condemns ‘dangerous, inhumane’ actions of Chinese forces vs Filipino fishers</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>DFA: DEMARCHE ISSUED TO CHINA</strong></div><p>The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed it has issued a demarche to the Chinese Embassy in Manila following the recent water cannon attack.</p><p>&quot;We are giving a demarche to the Chinese embassy today,&quot; DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said on Monday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/15/ph-gov-t-condemns-china-coast-guard-water-cannon-attack-on-filipino-fishermen-1631">PH gov’t condemns China Coast Guard water cannon attack on Filipino fishermen</a></div><p>A demarche is a formal diplomatic communication of a government’s official position to another government or international organization. </p><p>The DFA confirmed the issuance of the demarche following the National Maritime Council&#x27;s (NMC) statement that the government &quot;will undertake the appropriate diplomatic response and register its strong objection to these actions and demand that China cease such aggressive acts.&quot;</p><p>&quot;We reiterate that the Philippines will continue to pursue peaceful, rules-based solutions in protecting the rights, safety, and dignity of its fishers,&quot; the NMC statement read.</p><p>Meanwhile, various groups staged a lightning rally in front of the Chinese Embassy in Makati City on Tuesday to condemn its water cannon use. </p><p>“Kawawa naman po sila kaya po nandito po ang grupo po namin upang yanigin ang Chinese Embassy tungkol sa Escoda Shoal,” said Giselle Albano, Filipino Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement spokesperson.</p><p>Protesters destroyed an effigy representing Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese Marine Militia vessels and cardboard replicas of the Chinese flag. </p><p>“Tigilan! Tigilan nila ’yung pag-ali aligid sa Pilipinas at sundin nila yung July 12, 2016 Regional Tribunal Court na ang po ang West Philippine Sea ay parte ng Pilipinas, hindi ng nine-dash line nila. Sundin po ’yung UNCLOS, hindi ’yung nine-dash line nila,” Albano said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QRCRF7w8FHA?si=BNvwVLBMHVJl83nE" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Tuesday that even a Chinese maritime militia vessel—disguised as a civilian fishing boat—used water cannon against Filipino fishermen in the vicinity of Escoda or Sabina Shoal last weekend.</p>

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Tuesday that even a Chinese maritime militia vessel—disguised as a civilian fishing boat—used water cannon against Filipino fishermen in the vicinity of Escoda or Sabina Shoal last weekend.

Chinese maritime militia also used water cannon vs Filipino fishermen in Escoda Shoal: PCG

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Chinese maritime militia also used water cannon vs Filipino fishermen in Escoda Shoal: PCG

Bianca Dava,

Maricar Datuin,

Jeff Caparas,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 16, 2025 03:23 PM PHT

Read More:

water cannon

China Coast Guard

Chinese maritime militia

Filipino fishermen

Escoda Shoal

Sabina Shoal

Philippine Coast Guard

DFA

demarche

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