As two Philippine vessels meet on the high seas to transfer a sick Filipino soldier, China Coast Guard boats shadow, block and bump them, video released by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) showed yesterday.
The incident happened last month during the medical evacuation of a soldier who was stationed on a grounded Philippine Navy vessel, the BRP Sierra Madre, on Second Thomas Shoal (Renai Shoal, 仁愛暗沙) in the disputed South China Sea.
The PCG said they had deployed a boat on May 19 to retrieve the soldier from a Philippine Navy speedboat, and had informed the China Coast Guard of the “humanitarian nature” of their mission.
Photo: AFP / PCG
In a series of videos released by the PCG, a Chinese-flagged inflatable speedboat is seen bumping into the two stationary Philippine vessels as they prepare to transfer the patient.
Other boats — identified by Manila as belonging to the China Coast Guard — are also seen shadowing and blocking the path of the PCG boat.
The Chinese boats “engaged in dangerous maneuvers” and “intentionally rammed” the Philippine Navy vessel, PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Jay Tarriela said in a statement.
“The barbaric and inhumane behavior displayed by the China Coast Guard has no place in our society,” Tarriela said.
“What should have been a simple medical evacuation operation was subjected to harassment,” he said. “Their actions clearly demonstrated their intention to prevent the sick personnel from receiving the proper medical attention he urgently needed.”
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in response to the accusation it could “allow” the Philippines to deliver “necessary supplies” and evacuate personnel from the Sierra Madre if Beijing were notified in advance.
“However, the Philippines should not use this as an excuse to ship construction materials to the deliberately grounded warship in an attempt to permanently occupy the Renai Shoal,” ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning (毛寧) said.
The Filipino soldier was eventually loaded onto the PCG boat and taken to Palawan, where he received hospital treatment. The Philippines did not provide details of the soldier’s medical condition.
Other videos released by the Philippines yesterday showed China Coast Guard vessels shadowing three PCG speedboats carrying marine scientists from the University of the Philippines this week. The scientists were examining crushed coral found at two sandbars in Sabina Shoal (Xianbin, 仙濱暗沙). One video showed a Chinese inflatable speedboat nudging one of the Philippine boats.
In related news, Japan yesterday lodged a protest against Beijing after four armed China Coast Guard vessels entered waters that Tokyo considers its territory. The Japanese government said it was the first time that four Chinese vessels carrying what appeared to be cannons had entered its territorial waters in the East China Sea surrounding the disputed islands, which Tokyo calls the Senkaku and Beijing calls the Diaoyutai (釣魚台).
“I am not in a position to state what the Chinese side’s intentions are, but the intrusion of vessels belonging to China’s coast guard into [our] territory is a breach of international law,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press conference.
The China Coast Guard said that it had patrolled the waters with vessels carrying weapons. It said its patrol was a “routine action” to safeguard sovereignty, security and maritime rights, and a “necessary step” for peace and stability, as well as to counter Japan’s recent “negative moves.”
“We advise the Japanese side to be prudent in its words and actions, to reflect on itself and to stop provocations,” it said, adding that it would step up what it called “law enforcement efforts.”
Tokyo lodged a “strong protest” through diplomatic channels calling for a swift exit from the area, Hayashi said.
“The intrusion into our territorial waters is extremely regrettable and cannot be tolerated. We will continue to do our utmost to be vigilant and monitor the areas surrounding the Senkaku Islands with a sense of urgency, while dealing calmly and resolutely with China,” he said.
Tropical Storm Usagi strengthened to a typhoon yesterday morning and remains on track to brush past southeastern Taiwan from tomorrow to Sunday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was approximately 950km east-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost point, the CWA said. It is expected to enter the Bashi Channel and then turn north, moving into waters southeast of Taiwan, it said. The agency said it could issue a sea warning in the early hours of today and a land warning in the afternoon. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was moving at
DISCONTENT: The CCP finds positive content about the lives of the Chinese living in Taiwan threatening, as such video could upset people in China, an expert said Chinese spouses of Taiwanese who make videos about their lives in Taiwan have been facing online threats from people in China, a source said yesterday. Some young Chinese spouses of Taiwanese make videos about their lives in Taiwan, often speaking favorably about their living conditions in the nation compared with those in China, the source said. However, the videos have caught the attention of Chinese officials, causing the spouses to come under attack by Beijing’s cyberarmy, they said. “People have been messing with the YouTube channels of these Chinese spouses and have been harassing their family members back in China,”
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said there are four weather systems in the western Pacific, with one likely to strengthen into a tropical storm and pose a threat to Taiwan. The nascent tropical storm would be named Usagi and would be the fourth storm in the western Pacific at the moment, along with Typhoon Yinxing and tropical storms Toraji and Manyi, the CWA said. It would be the first time that four tropical cyclones exist simultaneously in November, it added. Records from the meteorology agency showed that three tropical cyclones existed concurrently in January in 1968, 1991 and 1992.
UPDATED FORECAST: The warning covered areas of Pingtung County and Hengchun Peninsula, while a sea warning covering the southern Taiwan Strait was amended The Central Weather Administration (CWA) at 5:30pm yesterday issued a land warning for Typhoon Usagi as the storm approached Taiwan from the south after passing over the Philippines. As of 5pm, Usagi was 420km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost tip, with an average radius of 150km, the CWA said. The land warning covered areas of Pingtung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春), and came with an amended sea warning, updating a warning issued yesterday morning to cover the southern part of the Taiwan Strait. No local governments had announced any class or office closures as of press time last night. The typhoon
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