MANILA – A Philippine Navy official has branded China’s Coast Guard (CCG) personnel as like a “band of barbarians” for their aggressive action during a Philippine resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
According to Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Roy Trinidad, a Philippine sailor suffered serious injury from the “intentional-high speed ramming” by the CCG, aiming to disrupt a resupply mission for troops stationed on Ayungin Shoal.
Trinidad added that CCG personnel were carrying knives and spears, looted firearms and
“deliberately punctured” Philippine boats involved in the mission.
“We were unprepared for that kind of response,” Trinidad told Reuters. “We stuck with the rules of engagement. They were not allowed to use guns except for self-defense.”
“China’s illegal, aggressive and deceptive actions raise the risk of miscalculation at sea,” he added.
Encounters between the Philippines and China, which claims most of the South China Sea, have grown more tense and frequent over the past year as Beijing pressed its claims and Manila refused to cease its resupply mission.
“Our approach is above board. But what they were doing is piracy…barbaric. I call them a band of barbarians,” Trinidad said. “It does not speak well of a country that wants to be a global power.”
“They have no right to wear the uniform, coastguardsmen are supposed to be responsible for safety of life at sea [but] their actions endanger life at sea,” he added./PN
