China’s penchant for ramming and deploying water cannons against vessels are deliberate examples of bullying, unsafe, and unprofessional conduct that blatantly disregard international maritime law, according to Rear Admiral Andrew Sugimoto, Deputy Commander of Coast Guard Pacific Area.
Sugimoto acknowledged that these aggressive tactics are far from the “resolute measures,” contradicting the claims of China to justify its recent maritime confrontations with a Philippine vessel on its way to Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
“The collision regulations in which all maritime countries abide by in order to safely navigate the oceans of the world are specifically designed to prevent vessels from ramming each other or hitting each other,” he said.
“It just doesn’t happen. Nor do we go around and taking water cannons, basically trying to flood out vessels and sink them. That is not what we call safe and professional operations,” Sugimoto underscored.
On Sunday, the China Coast Guard reportedly took “restrictive measures” against a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel, asserting that these actions were justified under their legal framework.
Sugimoto noted that while China may attempt to project itself as a rule-abiding member of the international community, its actions—such as ramming boats and using water cannons against unarmed vessels—contradict this image and undermine its credibility.
He echoed earlier pronouncements that the US is not only committed to supporting the Philippines in its claims in the South China Sea, but is also prepared to assist in enhancing the its operational capabilities in the region.
“We have transferred vessels to the Philippine Coast Guard, help them with the operations, maintenance of those particular vessels. We are looking for whatever the Philippine Coast Guard wants us to help them with,” Sugimoto stated.
Politican scientist Matteo Piasentini, meanwhile, viewed China’s ongoing aggression towards Philippine vessels as part of its strategy to enforce its “illegal” maritime claims, despite existing arrangements between the two countries.
“China and the Philippines have re-established (or modernized) this already existing dialogue mechanism after the last incident in June 2024 at Second Thomas Shoal. However, the objectives of such dialogue aren’t really clear,” he told the Manila Standard.
“At best, it is designed to manage disputes and incidents to prevent them to escalate into conflict, and perhaps build some confidence between the parties. It is not meant to stop or settle the disputes and does not create bilateral obligations to restraint,” Piasentini added.
The UP-Diliman senior lecturer acknowledged that China never complied with international law, noting its continuing defiance of the 2016 arbitration ruling that declared its expansionist claims as illegal based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Piasentini also stated that bolstering defense partnerships with other countries is crucial. While this may not completely deter China from asserting its claims in the South China Sea, it does provide the Philippines with a stronger position in the international fora.
“And while this won’t really stop China from asserting its rights at Sea, it contributes to give to the Philippines a bit of deterrence capacity to interact with China from a stronger stance, and manage disputes and encroachments without having to compromise its overall maritime claims,” he said.
