PCG vessel escorting RORE mission to Ayungin collides with CCG anew
2024-Mar-05 19:00
COLLISION. Two Philippine Coast Guard personnel scramble to place a fender to lessen the impact of collision before BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407) and the bigger China Coast Guard vessel 21555 collide on Tuesday (March 5, 2024). The BRP Sindangan suffered minor damage, according to the PCG. (Photo courtesy of PCG)
MANILA – A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel escorting a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal collided anew with a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel Tuesday morning, causing minor damage to the ship.
PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela reported that BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407) collided with CCG vessel 21555 due to the latter's "dangerous maneuvers and blocking".
In a video clip of the incident, two PCG personnel were seen scrambling to place a makeshift fender using buoys to lessen the impact before the two vessels collided.
Two CCG personnel, meanwhile, were seen documenting the incident with a handheld video camera as the event unfolds.
Tarriela said aside from BRP Sindangan, another ship BRP Cabra was also deployed to the regular rotation and reprovisioning mission (RORE).
This was the latest collision between a Filipino and Chinese vessel in the West Philippine Sea less than two months since Manila and Beijing held a bilateral meeting in January and agreed "to avoid escalation of tensions".
The Philippine government conducts a regular RORE to ensure the safety of Filipino troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) in Ayungin, located well within the country's exclusive economic zone.
'Troubling'
Meanwhile, the European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron said he was "troubled by today's pattern of dangerous maneuvers and blocking from Chinese Coast Guard vessels and Maritime Militia targeting Philippine vessels engaged in crucial resupply missions".
In a post on X, the envoy reiterated EU's call for all parties in the South China Sea "to abide by the legally binding 2016 Arbitration Award and international law to peacefully resolve disputes, guaranteeing safety in maritime waters".
The Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue a statement when asked to comment. (PNA)