Philippines accuses China of attempting to block another vessel
- The BRP Datu Sanday was supplying fuel to fishermen near the Scarborough Shoal when it was harassed by Chinese vessels on February 22, the Philippine Coast Guard says
- Three of the four Chinese vessels came within 100 metres of Datu Sanday’s bow, in an incident report that also listed a number of other ‘dangerous manoeuvres’
The Philippines on Sunday accused the Chinese coastguard of attempting to block a Filipino government vessel delivering supplies to fishermen, the second such alleged incident near a disputed reef in two weeks.
The BRP Datu Sanday was supplying fuel to fishermen near the Scarborough Shoal when it was harassed by a China Coast Guard vessel and three other Chinese ships on February 22, the Philippine Coast Guard said.
Three of the four Chinese vessels came within 100 metres (328 feet) of Datu Sanday’s bow, it said in an incident report that also listed shadowing, vessel transponder jamming and other “dangerous manoeuvres”.
“Despite these manoeuvres, the skipper of BRP Datu Sanday exhibited excellent seamanship skills and managed to evade the blocking attempts,” said Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Filipino coastguard spokesman on South China Sea issues.
A week earlier, the Philippine Coast Guard said the BRP Datu Tamblot had a similar encounter in the area.
Scarborough Shoal – a triangular chain of reefs and rocks – has been a flashpoint between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012.
Since then, Beijing has deployed patrol boats that Manila says harass Philippine vessels and prevent Filipino fishermen from accessing a fish-rich lagoon there.
