Agence France-Presse

Izzy Lee

ABS-CBN News

<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/yp3Xx4erIj0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>MANILA -- The Philippines fisheries bureau accused the China Coast Guard on Thursday of firing water cannon and sideswiping a Filipino government vessel while it collected sand for a research project.</p><p>China and the Philippines have engaged in months of confrontations in the contested South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely, despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis.</p><p>Wednesday&#x27;s encounter happened near a group of small sandbanks in the Spratly Islands where two Filipino ships were collecting sand samples &quot;as part of a marine scientific research initiative&quot;, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said in a statement.</p><p>&quot;At approximately 0913H, CCG vessel 21559 water cannoned and sideswiped the BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3002) twice ... putting at risk lives of its civilian personnel.&quot;</p><p>It was the first time water cannon were used against Philippine vessels near the disputed Sandy Cay reef, the bureau added.</p><p>The &quot;aggressive interference, dangerous manuevers, and illegal acts&quot; damaged the Philippine ship&#x27;s port bow and smokestack, according to the bureau&#x27;s statement.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/5/22/beijing-slams-video-posted-by-us-embassy-in-singapore-about-south-china-sea-1310">Beijing slams video posted by US embassy in Singapore about South China Sea</a></div><p>The Philippines scientific team was still able &quot;to complete its operations in Pag-Asa Cays 1, 2 and 3&quot;, the statement said, using the Philippine term for the Sandy Cays.</p><p>China&#x27;s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said she was not aware of the incident. &quot;What I can tell you is that the Chinese Coast Guard always enforces the law in accordance with laws and regulations,&quot; she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PCG TO CONTINUE MARITIME RESEARCH DESPITE ATTACKS</strong></div><p>The Philippine Coast Guard, meanwhile, said it will not be deterred from conducting marine scientific research in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), despite being subjected to water cannon attacks by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG).</p><p>&quot;The message of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine Coast guard and government agencies, pagdating sa usapin ng Pagasa Cay is that it will never stop our government in conducting all these marine scientic research,&quot; said PCG Spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela.</p><p>&quot;And that we have sovereignity over these waters and that despite of their harrasment and bullying, ang atin pong BFAR and coast guard ay patuloy pa ring gagawin ang marine scientific research and it will not stop us from doing these operations,&quot; Tarriela added.</p><p>On May 21, two BFAR vessels carrying Filipino scientists were deployed near Pag-asa Cay 2 to collect sand samples as part of a marine scientific research mission. During the operation, CCG vessel 22559 used a water cannon and sideswiped BRP Datu Sanday (MV30022) twice in an apparent attempt to disrupt the activity.</p><p>No injuries were reported among the onboard personnel, but the extent of any potential damage has yet to be determined and will be assessed once the vessel returns to port, according to Tarriela.</p><p>He also said that aside from the two Chinese Coast Guard vessels and Chinese maritime militia present in the area, a PLA Navy helicopter with tail number 52 was also deployed.</p><p>&quot;Nagpalipad din sila at a very low altitute of less than 500 meters sa ibabaw ng ating BFAR vessel,&quot; he said.</p><p>However, the PCG reaffirmed the national government’s position to not respond with aggressive actions.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re not going to do those unlawful and professional actions of the Chinese Coast Guard in response to these kinds of actions. We believe it doesn&#x27;t have any strategic gain on our part kung gagayahin natin sila,&quot; Tarriela said.</p><p>Despite the incident, Tarriela reported that the scientists were still able to successfully collect sand samples and complete their mission as planned.</p><p>Last month, the Philippines slammed as &quot;irresponsible&quot; a Chinese state media report claiming that Sandy Cay 2 was put under China&#x27;s control.</p><p>Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said that the country&#x27;s coast guard had &quot;implemented maritime control&quot; over Tiexian Reef in mid-April.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/22/south-china-sea-code-of-conduct-must-not-supersede-unclos-doj-exec-1354">South China Sea &#x27;code of conduct&#x27; must not supersede UNCLOS: DOJ exec</a></div>

<p>The Philippines fisheries bureau accused the China Coast Guard on Thursday of firing water cannon and sideswiping a Filipino government vessel while it collected sand for a research project.</p>

The Philippines fisheries bureau accused the China Coast Guard on Thursday of firing water cannon and sideswiping a Filipino government vessel while it collected sand for a research project.

Philippines says China Coast Guard fired water cannon, 'sideswiped' govt vessel | ABS-CBN

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Philippines says China Coast Guard fired water cannon, 'sideswiped' govt vessel

Agence France-Presse,

Izzy Lee,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 22, 2025 04:52 PM PHT

|

Updated May 22, 2025 08:07 PM PHT

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Philippine Coast Guard

Pag-Asa

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