Philippines slams Beijing's 'reckless and dangerous maneuvers' in South China Sea

IANS April 7, 2025 318 views

The Philippines has strongly condemned China's aggressive maritime actions in the South China Sea, alleging deliberate attempts to ram a Philippine Coast Guard vessel near Scarborough Shoal. Philippine officials, including Coast Guard Spokesperson Jay Tarriela and Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, denounced the maneuvers as dangerous and a violation of international law. The incident highlights the ongoing territorial tensions between China and Southeast Asian nations over maritime boundaries and resources. The Philippines maintains it will continue to protect its sovereign maritime interests despite provocative Chinese tactics.

"The PCG sailors successfully outmatched the reckless tactics" - Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson
Manila, April 7: In yet another incident of China's aggressive posturing in the region, the Philippines on Monday raised serious concerns over a Chinese vessel engaging in "reckless and dangerous" maneuvers against a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel in the South China Sea.

Key Points

1

Philippines alleges deliberate ramming attempts by Chinese vessels

2

Senate condemns international law violations

3

Incident occurs near contested Scarborough Shoal

4

Coast Guard maintains professional response

The Philippine Coast Guard alleged that the Chinese vessel CCG-3302 made multiple attempts to ram the aft of the PCG vessel, BRP Cabra.

Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson Jay Tarriela stated that due to the PCG vessel's superior maneuverability, the China Coast Guard deployed a smaller, faster vessel, CCG-21612, to further attempt to ram the PCG vessel.

"Despite these aggressive actions, the professionalism, composure, and seamanship of the PCG sailors successfully outmatched the reckless tactics employed by the two China Coast Guard vessels. The BRP Cabra continues to shadow and challenge CCG-3302, demonstrating unwavering resolve in the face of intimidation," Tarriela posted on X.

"The PCG remains steadfast in adhering to the explicit guidance of PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, which emphasises maintaining a high level of professionalism to prevent escalation while embodying a fearless spirit of patriotism. In accordance with the directive of Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., the PCG is committed to upholding its duties and responsibilities in safeguarding the nation's maritime interests," he further added.

Meanwhile, Philippines Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Monday condemned the "reckless and dangerous" actions of a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel that nearly collided with a Philippine patrol ship in contested waters off Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal on Sunday, calling it a blatant violation of international law and an affront to Philippine sovereignty.

Tolentino, in a statement, emphasised that Panatag Shoal is well within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), as upheld by the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, state-run news agency PNA reported.

"This aggressive maneuver not only endangered the lives of our brave maritime personnel but also constitutes a blatant violation of international law and the Philippines' sovereign rights," he said.

China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea has been a growing cause of concern for many Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines. China continues to make sweeping claims of sovereignty over the South China Sea, which has untapped natural resources, including oil and natural gas.

Reader Comments

M
Maria R.
Proud of our Coast Guard! 🇵🇭 They showed incredible skill and professionalism against these dangerous maneuvers. We must continue standing firm against these bullying tactics.
J
James L.
While I support defending our waters, I wonder if we're doing enough diplomatically. These incidents keep happening - maybe we need stronger alliances with other ASEAN nations to present a united front.
C
Carlos T.
China's behavior is unacceptable. The 2016 ruling was clear - these are our waters. The international community needs to step up and hold them accountable.
A
Andrea M.
The bravery of our PCG sailors is inspiring! But this situation is getting scarier by the day. What happens if one of these "maneuvers" actually causes a collision? 😟
R
Ramon S.
I appreciate the government's strong stance, but I wish we'd see more concrete actions rather than just statements after each incident. Our fishermen still can't safely operate in our own waters.
L
Lina K.
This is why we need to invest more in our maritime defense capabilities. The PCG did amazing with what they have, but they deserve better equipment to match China's growing aggression.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
South China Sea Dispute China-Philippines Tensions Maritime Sovereignty Coast Guard Confrontation Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
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