There’s word on Sunday that China has continued its aggressive moves in territory within the South China Sea that it claims belongs to it, this time against some ships from the Philippines. We’ve written previously about similar moves by the Chinese military, some of which they deigned to blame on others, including the U.S. military:
Read:
China Points Finger at U.S. for Close Call With Warships
WATCH: Canadian News Crew Witnesses Chinese Warship in Taiwan Strait Swerve Dangerously Close to US Ship
But in this case, it wasn’t a close call, as the Chinese coast guard appears to have badly damaged one of the boats during the encounter:
Video of the incident showed a Philippine civilian vessel taking “heavy damage” from the water cannon, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
While sharing video of the attack, the official AFP Twitter account described a “dangerous maneuver” the Chinese vessel made: crossing in front of the supply ship Unaizah May 4:
WATCH | At 06:08AM on March 23, 2024, China coast guard vessel BN21551 performs dangerous maneuver of crossing the bow against Philippine Supply Vessel Unaizah May 4 while en route to Ayungin Shoal for the RoRe mission for the Filipino soldiers stationed in BRP Sierra Madre.
WATCH | At 06:08AM on March 23, 2024, China coast guard vessel BN21551 performs dangerous maneuver of crossing the bow against Philippine Supply Vessel Unaizah May 4 while en route to Ayungin Shoal for the RoRe mission for the Filipino soldiers stationed in BRP Sierra Madre. pic.twitter.com/56tcrJJEQB
— Armed Forces of the Philippines (@TeamAFP) March 22, 2024
Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela called out “the irresponsible and provocative behavior of the Chinese maritime forces” in another Twitter-X post, while sharing a third video of three Chinese vessels “imped[ing] and encircl[ing] a Philippine Coast Guard ship:
As of 0720H on March 23, 2024, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel, MRRV 4409, has been impeded and encircled by one (1) China Coast Guard vessel with bow number 21551, along with two (2) China Maritime Militia Vessels (CMMV) bearing bow numbers 00036 and 00314. MRRV 4409 has… pic.twitter.com/QvE7jBhfh3
— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) March 23, 2024
AFP added that “China subsequently installed floating barriers to ‘prevent further entry of any vessels.’”
The Chinese military’s reckless actions came just four days after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken renewed the United States’ “iron-clad commitment” to our ally in the South China Sea, during a stop in Manila:
Blinken said a mutual defense treaty signed in 1951, under which Washington is bound to defend Manila from attack, is “ironclad” and “extends to armed attacks on the Filipino armed forces, public vessels, aircraft – including those of its coast guard – anywhere in the South China Sea.”
We’ll bring you further updates on this developing story.
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