The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) denounced the China Coast Guard (CCG) for using water cannons against two Philippine vessels near Zambales, calling it a violation of international law and a false assertion of Chinese sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea.
On Friday, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) deployed four vessels to deliver fuel and supplies to Filipino fishermen operating near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal). Two of these vessels — the BRP Datu Tamblot and BRP Datu Taradapit — were targeted by CCG vessels 4203 and 3105 with water cannons at distances of approximately 15.6 and 18.1 nautical miles from the shoal.
“This is outside the territorial sea of Bajo de Masinloc and falls within our exclusive economic zone,” said PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela at a forum in Quezon City. He reiterated that Filipinos have sovereign rights to fully utilize resources within these waters, particularly for fishing.
Tarriela questioned China’s legal basis for claiming sovereignty in the area, saying the Philippine government’s actions are aligned with domestic and international maritime law — including the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 arbitral ruling favoring the Philippines.
The Marcos administration, he added, remains committed to food security and the protection of Filipino fishermen. BFAR operations will continue, with vessels now en route to Sual, Pangasinan and other parts of the West Philippine Sea to support fishing communities.
