NAAWAN, Misamis Oriental (MindaNews / 27 June) — The ramming on June 17 by China’s coast guard (CCG) of the ship that ferried supplies and repair materials to the Philippine outpost, the grounded naval vessel, Sierra Madre, has raised the temperature of the territorial dispute between the two countries.
China declared the incident though as collision resulting from the reckless maneuver of the Philippines rotation and resupply (RoRe) ship in its territorial waters.
On account of its 10-lines, China basically claimed the entire South China Sea as its territorial waters negating Hague arbitration ruling that some 400,000 square miles of said waters is the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
Time and again, CCG used water cannons to stop rotation and resupply ship (RoRe) ships and Philippines Coast Guard (PCCG) escorts from reaching the maritime outpost in Ayungin Shoal, damaging them and hurting their crew.
It should be noted that China earlier declared that it would arrest any trespassers of its territorial waters. Two days after the effective date of implementation, the incident happened. The CCG fired water cannons at PCCG, boarded it and seized a number of guns, puncturing inflatable vessels and destroying their motors.
Philippine soldiers used their “bare hands” to fight off Chinese coast guard personnel who were armed with swords, spears and knives, said the country’s top military commander, General Romeo Brawner. A photo from the Filipino side captured the CCG personnel’s aggressive acts.
One Filipino soldier lost a thumb when the PCCG vessel was rammed, the general said. China denied its personnel were to blame, saying they acted professionally and were restrained in conducting the inspection of the trespassing PCCG vessel. The photo, showed otherwise.
The country has filed hundreds of diplomatic protest over China’s endless bullying to no avail.
A more emphatic response to this latest unbridled aggression and coercion might be imperative to show that we have balls, like recalling our diplomat in China. This will surely gain international attention and shame the big bully.
(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. William R. Adan, Ph.D., is retired professor and former chancellor of Mindanao State University at Naawan, Misamis Oriental)