WWIII
Philippines Gathers Evidence on Chinese Collision While Stressing Diplomacy
A day after possibly the most damaging collision between Chinese and Filipino coast guard vessels, officials in the Philippines sought to de-escalate the situation by talking about the diplomatic options available. While the National Maritime Council called for collecting evidence, senior government officials stressed that President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has called for resolving the issues in the South China Sea through diplomacy.
The newly appointed spokesperson for the National Maritime Council Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez spoke to reporters a day after the incident in which two of the Philippines' newest patrol boats were damaged in collisions with Chinese vessels. The two incidents took place about 20 minutes minutes apart and at a distance of approximately two nautical miles from each other.
The vessels involved were delivered to the Philippines in 2018 under a loan program administered by OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) an intergovernmental organization to promote economic progress. The BRP Bagacay reportedly has a 3-foot wide and 2.5-foot long gash on one side and a foot-deep dent on the other side. The BRP Cape Engano is reported to have a 3.6-foot gash on one side. Pictures showed a hole in the hull as well as multiple dents on both vessels and reports of damage to engine exhaust on BRP Cape Engano.
One of the dents in the Philippines' coast guard vessels after contact with the Chinese vessels (PCG)
Lopez told reporters at the briefing in Manila that the Coast Guard has been ordered to “gather evidence” and develop proper documentation. He said it could be used for a possible filing of a diplomatic protest.
During the press briefing, he said the Philippines is still pursuing a diplomatic or peaceful approach, saying kinetic actions, “would not be in the best interest of our country and of China and even in the region.”
This came after both sides on Monday traded accusations about the incidents. The Philippines accused the Chinese vessels of being unprofessional and performing illegal and dangerous maneuvers. The Chinese called their actions “legitimate, professional, and restrained,” insisting that the Philippine patrol boats changed course into the path of the Chinese vessels.
Philippine government officials highlighted that the decisions would be made by the president after reviewing the recommendations of the council. Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela, the spokesperson for the organization, went on the radio and called for negotiations to cover expanded elements of navigation in the disputed areas.
One suggestion that many Philippine officials have backed is seeking to expand the tentative agreements governing the resupply efforts. They said it could possibly be expanded to other areas in the maritime domain.
The United States, Germany, France, New Zealand, and Australia all issued statements of support for the Philippines. The Japanese embassy said it was “seriously concerned” over the recent aggressive conduct.
Chinese officials reiterated in their briefings the position that the Philippines was the first to violate China’s rights. However, the Chinese also seemed to refocus their criticism from the Philippines instead to the United States. They said America should stop inciting confrontations calling U.S. actions as undermining regional stability and exacerbating tensions.
Video: China Coast Guard Rams Two Philippine Vessels
Two Philippine Coast Guard vessels were damaged overnight on August 19 during the latest resupply missions into the disputed areas near Second Thomas Shoal. Chinese and Philippine officials have both issued harsh statements loaded with new accusations coming just weeks after both sides had tentatively agreed to reduce tensions in the region.
There is very little China and the Philippines are agreeing about in this incident but neither has claimed any injuries to their crews. The Philippines however is saying both vessels were holed with what it calls the worst damage since the incidents began in the Spratly Islands.
The Philippine Coast Guard cutters BRP Bagacay and BRP Cape Engano were underway when they encountered the Chinese vessels. Both sides are saying the vessels were headed toward the waters around Sabina Shoal in the same area as Second Thomas and the latest flashpoint in the conflicts.
BRP Cape Engano was the first vessel that the Chinese attempted to stop with a collision with the CCGV-3104. About 20 minutes later and two miles from the first incident, the BRP Bagacay and the CCGV 21551 collided. Philippine officials said Cape Engano suffered the more significant damage releasing pictures of a gash they are reporting measures 3.6 feet and damage to an engine exhaust. They initially termed the damage to Bagacay as “minor structural damage,” but reports now say the vessel has a hole approximately 2.5 feet long and 3 feet wide. There is a 1-foot dent on the other side of the vessel.
China quickly released videos and a series of angry statements calling the Filipinos “intruders,” but only acknowledging the encounter with Cape Engano. The Chinese statements are accusing the Filipinos of ignoring repeated warnings and “intentionally sailing dangerously.” China says its Coast Guard took “legitimate, professional, and restrained restrictive measures,” while the “Philippine side bears full responsibility for the incident.”
China refers to it as a “scrape.” They claim the videos show the Chinese vessels were sailing straight while the Philippine vessels “suddenly turned right, causing a collision.”
The Philippines responded calling the Chinese actions “dangerous and illegal maneuvers.” They are saying the Chinese Coast Guard was “aggressive” with the Cape Engano while they accused the Chinese of twice ramming Bagacy on both of her sides.
Chinese Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu was especially forceful in today’s statements saying the Philippines “repeatedly made provocations and stirred up troubles, violating the temporary agreement reached by the two sides about delivering living material supplies to the Philippine vessel,” grounded and used as a base at Second Thomas Shoal. China says the provocations began about a year ago and “from the beginning, they were instigated by the US.”
“This is the biggest structural damage we have incurred as a result of the dangerous maneuvers carried out by the Chinese Coast Guard,” said Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard. The Philippines vows to continue its essential supply missions to its personnel.
The United States was quick to condemn the actions of the Chinese saying it stands with the Philippines.
China has continued its efforts to encroach on the Philippines and seeking to extend its territorial claims in the South China Sea.
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