BFAR ship damaged after continuous ramming and water cannon by China

IN what can be said as the worst actions done by the Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese militia on Philippine resupply ships, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel BRP Bankaw, suffered major damage and its cooling system had malfunctioned after it was struck by water cannon 13 times, and rammed at three times.

China fired the water cannons at two Philippine vessels and damaged one of them during a patrol in the West Philippine Sea. 

Courtesy: PCG

According to the report from the Philippine Coast Guard, a total of four China Coast Guard vessels and 6 maritime militia vessels conducted what was dubbed as “dangerous maneuvers and obstruction” during a mission to resupply Filipino fishermen near Bajo de Masinloc.

PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the incident occurred some 12 nautical miles from Bajo De Masinloc.

Videos from the PCG showed the Chinese Coast Guard again blasting water cannons at the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel BRP Bankaw.

Courtesy: PCG

According to Tarriela, the Chinese ships bombarded the PH ships with water cannons on both sides.

It resulted to the “damage to the railing and canopy” of the Philippine vessel. 

“This damage serves as evidence of the forceful water pressure used by the China Coast Guard in their harassment of the Philippine vessels,” the PCG  said in statement. 

“Despite the harassment and provocative actions of the Chinese Coast Guard, both the PCG and BFAR vessels stood their ground and continued their maritime patrol. They were not deterred and will persist in carrying out their legitimate operations to support Filipino fishermen and ensure their safety,” Tarriela added.

Courtesy: PCG

A report from the government station PTV 4’s Ulat Bayan said that the CCG rammed the Philippine BFAR vessel three times.

“On April 30, the Chinese Coast Guard, in accordance with the law, expelled Philippine coast guard ship 4410 and government ship 3004 after they intruded into the waters adjacent to Huangyan Island,” the Coast Guard said in a statement, referring to the Scarborough Shoal by its Chinese name.