Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Major General Jay Tarriela on February 17 accused Chinese coast guard vessels of “dangerous” actions in the disputed Scarborough Shoal area between China and the Philippines in the East Sea.
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| Tensions between China and the Philippines in the East Sea continue to rise. (Source: AFP) |
Major General Jay Tarriela, spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard, on February 17 accused Chinese coast guard vessels of “dangerous” actions after they repeatedly blocked a Philippine ship carrying supplies to fishermen at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
Previously, on February 15 and 16, the Philippine coast guard also made similar accusations against Chinese ships in the same area.
“No ship is allowed to cross the bow of another ship because it is very dangerous,” Tarriela said at a press conference in Manila, adding that such actions could “cause collisions.”
In one of the latest incidents, a Chinese navy ship, Chinese coast guard vessels and other Chinese vessels shadowed a Philippine vessel from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources that was carrying food and fuel for Filipino fishermen, allowing them to spend more time at sea and catch bigger fish.
AFP reporters and journalists from several local media outlets were on board the Philippine ship BRP Datu Tamblot during its three-day round trip. The Datu Tamblot and Chinese coast guard vessels repeatedly exchanged radio messages, with each side accusing the other of violating its territorial waters. The Chinese coast guard vessel blocked the Datu Tamblot four times by crossing its bow and blocking the Philippine ship from approaching Scarborough Shoal.
Despite China's actions, the Datu Tamblot was able to approach the shoal within a few kilometers and deliver 21,000 liters of diesel and other supplies to 19 Philippine fishing boats, Tarriela added.
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