Chinese Coast Guard water cannons PCG during medical evacuation mission

MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel water cannoned and shadowed a Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) asset while it was conducting an emergency medical evacuation mission.

This was confirmed by PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea WPS) Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela in a statement issued late Thursday, Oct. 8.

He said the incident resulted in the mission being delayed for nearly 10 hours.

READ: 3 CCG ships pass near Batanes in ‘very unusual’ pattern – WPS tracker

“Ayungin Shoal lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, as affirmed by the 1982 UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award. Giving medical care to Filipino personnel stationed there is the government’s sovereign responsibility, not a privilege granted by any foreign power,” he said, referring to the arbitral tribunal ruling in favor of the Philippines’ over China’s assertion in WPS.

He added, “Using a water cannon during a humanitarian mission is dangerous and unlawful. It puts lives at sea at risk and violates basic standards of maritime conduct,”

The Armed Forces of the Philippines’s Western Command earlier said that one of its personnel aboard the BRP Sierra Madre (LS57) is in need of immediate medical attention due to a prior condition.

READ: China Coast Guard fires water cannon at PH vessel during Panatag mission

The PCG said that it has deployed BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) from Lawak Island to assist.

However, while the vessel was about 9 nautical miles (NM) north of Ayungin Shoal, the CCG activated its cannon, Tarriela said. He said that the Chinese vessel has been shadowing the BRP Cabra since it was deployed.

“It kept the water cannon running as it closed in from about 1.3 nautical miles to roughly 400 yards of the PCG vessel, in an apparent attempt to drive BRP Cabra away from the shoal. BRP Cabra was not hit,” he detailed.

At around 12:52 p.m., the CCG radio challenged the BRP Cabra, urging them to a different rendezvous point that was farther from BRP Sierra Madre.

“The PCG put the patient’s welfare first and adjusted its operations,” he said.

As the BRP Cabra deployed its rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) to meet with the LS-57’s rubber boats where the patient is aboard, the CCG also deployed a RHIB to shadow them for the entire 9.2 NM transit.

The patient was safely transferred to the PCG’s RHIB around 3:15 p.m. before being transported to the BRP Cabra before 5 p.m. for the completion of the medical evacuation.

Throughout the transit, the CCG continued to shadow the PCG assets, although no further escalation occurred.

“A transfer like this would normally take only a few hours. It took nearly ten because the CCG used its water cannon, refused the original rendezvous point, and shadowed PCG assets throughout,” he expressed.

The AFP personnel was reportedly stable and is being brought to the nearest port for further treatment.

PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan urged the CCG to respect future medical evacuation missions.

“When a life is at stake, there should be no water cannon, no obstruction, and no delay. Saving a sick or injured person at sea is a basic obligation that every coast guard in the world is expected to uphold,” Gavan expressed in the same statement.

He further said, “We call on the China Coast Guard to value and respect humanitarian missions moving forward, and to act in a manner consistent with international law and the professional standards expected of any coast guard.” /mr

The post Chinese Coast Guard water cannons PCG during medical evacuation mission appeared first on Inquirer.net.