By hannover-web.com In a recent incident near Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, a Philippine fishing vessel reportedly faced a barrage of high-pressure water cannon fire from a Chinese ship. Although the water did not make contact with the Philippine vessel, the Filipino military has voiced concerns regarding the event.
Nazario Briguera, the spokesperson for the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), spoke with local media about the bureau’s proactive response. He confirmed that three vessels were dispatched to supply Filipino fishermen in the Scarborough Shoal area. One of these vessels, the BRP Datu Cabaylo, became a target of the Chinese Coast Guard but successfully evaded the water cannon attack.
Briguera noted that during this encounter, three Chinese vessels and a naval ship were observed following at a distance. He proudly stated that the BFAR vessel managed to deliver essential supplies—including fuel, food, and water—to seven mother ships and 16 smaller fishing boats.
Despite the narrow escape, Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesperson for the Philippine Navy, reiterated his serious concerns about the incident. He emphasized that the military remains committed to asserting and defending the Philippines’ sovereignty through continued patrols in what is referred to as the “West Philippine Sea.”
The Philippines asserts a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone extending into the South China Sea, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This area is commonly referred to by Filipinos as the “West Philippine Sea.”
The sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea involve several countries, including the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Tensions have been mounting since 2012, when a standoff erupted between Philippine and Chinese government ships at Scarborough Shoal. This confrontation led to the Philippines’ withdrawal and the subsequent Chinese occupation of the lagoon, marking the loss of Philippine control in the area. Since then, reports from Philippine vessels have frequently detailed harassment by Chinese ships, resulting in fishermen being driven away.
In January 2013, in an effort to counter China’s control over Scarborough Shoal, the Philippines escalated the matter by bringing the South China Sea dispute before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague.
The PCA delivered a landmark ruling in July 2016, declaring that China’s Nine-Dash Line claims lacked validity under international law and confirming that much of the South China Sea is classified as international waters. The ruling also recognized the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. However, Beijing has rejected the arbitration decision and continues not to acknowledge it.
