MANILA — A Philippine government vessel, BRP Datu Sanday, was harassed by eight Chinese Coast Guard ships while transiting between Hasa-Hasa Shoal and Escoda Shoal on Sunday, with one of the ships ramming the Filipino vessel, according to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS).
According to Philippines News Agency, the incident involved aggressive maneuvers by the China Coast Guard, including one of their vessels, identified as ship 21551, ramming the BRP Datu Sanday. The clash occurred near Escoda Shoal, as documented by a video captured by an Inquirer.net reporter on board the Filipino ship. The BFAR vessel was on a humanitarian mission, delivering essential supplies like diesel, food, and medical kits to Filipino fishermen in the area.
The task force reported that the Chinese actions included encirclement attempts by the People’s Liberation Army Navy ship 626 and several China Coast Guard ships, which aimed to obstruct the humanitarian efforts of the BRP Datu Sanday. During the encounter, Chinese vessels also targeted the Filipino ship with water cannons, leading to the failure of its engine and a halt to the resupply mission.
“These unprofessional, aggressive and illegal actions posed serious risks to the safety of the Filipino crew and the fishermen they were meant to serve. Despite these provocative maneuvers, the crew aboard the BFAR vessel maintained high morale and remained safe and unharmed,” the NTF-WPS emphasized, dismissing rumors of Filipinos falling overboard and being rescued by the CCG as “fake news and misinformation.”
The location of the incident, near Hasa-Hasa Shoal (also known as Half-Moon Shoal) and Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, falls within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, highlighting the ongoing territorial disputes in the region. In response, the Philippine government has reiterated its call for China to cease these provocative actions and emphasized its commitment to upholding international maritime law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award.