On Sunday, a China Coast Guard cutter “rammed” a Philippine provide boat because it tried to make the transit to Second Thomas Shoal, the place the Philippine navy maintains a small outpost. The provide boat was unhurt and reached the garrison aboard a decaying WWII touchdown ship, the BRP Sierra Madre. The interplay – together with different severe injury attributable to Chinese vessels over the weekend – means that China has a  new willingness to escalate in its recurring confrontations. 

According to PCG spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela, the cutters BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan tried to escort a provide convoy of two picket boats to the shoal, as they’ve many occasions earlier than. The convoy encountered resistance from the China Coast Guard, as anticipated. 

Tarriela experiences that Chinese cutter CCG 5204 – a well-known presence – used its water cannon in an try to discourage the availability boat Kalavaan. The high-pressure water cannon prompted “severe damage to Kalavaan’s engines,” stated Tarriela, disabling the vessel. The cutter BRP Sindangan took Kalavaan in tow and returned to the shelter of Ulugan Bay, Palawan. 

Meanwhile, the smaller Chinese cutter CCG 21556 pursued the availability boat Unaizah Mae 1. During a close-quarters interplay, 21556 “rammed” the Unaizah, in accordance with Tarriela. A Philippine video of the scene seems to indicate that the cutter’s strengthened port bow made contact with the Unaizah’s starboard quarter, nudging Unaizah. 

Statement of the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea
December 10, 2023, Manila, Philippines

Today, 10 December 2023, China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels harassed, blocked, and executed harmful maneuvers on Philippine civilian provide vessels,… pic.twitter.com/NF66BqVPUM

— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) December 10, 2023

However, the China Coast Guard advised that Unaizah Mae 1 struck the CCG 21556’s bow together with her stern, and supplied a distinct video that seems to indicate Unaizah turning to port within the moments earlier than contact.  

The collision bore some similarity to a earlier interplay at Second Thomas Shoal in October, when CCG 5203 made gentle contact with the Unaizah May 2’s starboard quarter. 

The resupply runs to Second Thomas Shoal sometimes contain tense standoffs between the China Coast Guard and the Philippine Coast Guard. China claims possession of the Spratly Islands and surrounding waters, together with areas inside the Philippine unique financial zone, like Second Thomas Shoal. Beijing has repeatedly ordered Manila to withdraw from the BRP Sierra Madre, however Philippine forces have held out, due to high-risk missions like Sunday’s. 

In earlier confrontations, Chinese forces have used aggressive maneuvering, water cannons, acoustic gadgets (LRAD) and laser goal illuminators to discourage Philippine provide boats. The PCG has lengthy warned that these techniques enhance the chance of collision.

Tarriela famous that Second Thomas Shoal is a low-tide elevation, not a liveable island able to supporting a sovereignty declare, and he emphasised that it lies inside the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration within the Hague dismissed Chinese assertions of sovereignty over Philippine waters.

“The systematic and consistent manner in which the People’s Republic of China carries out these illegal and irresponsible actions puts into question and significant doubt the sincerity of its calls for peaceful dialogue. Peace and stability cannot be achieved without due regard for the legitimate, well-established, and legally settled rights of others,” stated Tarriela. 

Multiple encounters

Sunday’s run-in at Second Thomas Shoal was simply one in all three menacing encounters between Philippine vessels and Chinese “gray zone” forces over the weekend. 

On Saturday, throughout a mission to assist Philippine fishermen at disputed Scarborough Shoal, civilian boats from the Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources bumped into opposition from the China Coast Guard. CCG cutters used water cannons and Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs, also referred to as sound cannons) on three of the bureau’s boats. The LRADs carried out as designed, incapacitating some crewmembers and inflicting others non permanent discomfort. The CCG additionally deployed small boat crews and strung a brand new floating barrier throughout the doorway to the shoal. 

“The aggression and provocations perpetrated by the China Coast Guard and their Chinese Maritime Militia against our vessels and personnel over the weekend have only further steeled our determination to defend and protect our nation’s sovereignty,” stated Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in an announcement. “Bajo de Masinloc [Scarborough Shoal] is sovereign Philippine territory and an integral part of our archipelago. No one but the Philippines has a legitimate right or legal basis to operate anywhere in the West Philippine Sea. The illegal presence in our waters and dangerous actions against our citizens is an outright and blatant violation of international law and the rules-based international order.”

Meanwhile, a civilian “humanitarian” convoy operated by activist group Atin Ito (“This Is Ours”) had additionally deliberate to go to Philippine outposts within the Spratly Islands so as to ship Christmas presents and provides. The Philippine authorities had tried to discourage the civilian convoy for months, citing the chance that its residents would possibly run in encounters with Chinese forces. On Sunday, after “constant shadowing of four Chinese vessels” – together with two PLA Navy warships – the Atin Ito convoy determined to show round and head again to Palawan. The determination was taken in session with the Philippine Coast Guard, organizers stated.