Chinese coast guard ships disrupted a Philippine law enforcement operation against suspected dynamite fishing near Pag-asa Island on Sunday, October 4, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). The incident inside Philippine territorial waters involved blocking maneuvers, horn sounding, and the deployment of a People’s Liberation Army Navy helicopter.
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Personnel of the Joint Task Unit Pag-Asa first spotted alleged blast fishing by a foreign vessel near Sandy Cays 2 and 3, located about three nautical miles west of Pag-asa Island, at approximately 7:20 a.m. on Sunday.
Inter-Agency Response at Sandy Cays
The Coast Guard District Kalayaan Island Group quickly formed an inter-agency team after spotting the suspected illegal activity. The response force included the PCG High-Speed Response Boat HSRB-019, a Philippine Navy rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) and rubber boat, and a Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group RHIB, as reported by the PCG.
As the Philippine team left the sheltered port of Pag-asa Island at around 9:50 a.m., China Coast Guard (CCG) ships with bow numbers 5102 and 21581 moved into their path. Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman for West Philippine Sea issues, stated that the Chinese vessels sounded their horns and radio-challenged the Philippine team.
Chinese ships and navy helicopter block pursuit of fleeing vessel
When the Philippine team approached about 500 meters east-southeast of Sandy Cay 2, the suspected blast fishing small boats had already returned to their mother ship. The team ordered the vessel to stop and issued multiple radio calls, which the vessel ignored as it sailed southwest toward Zamora Reef.
During the pursuit, CCG ship 21581 shadowed and blocked the Philippine boats, coming within about 10 yards of the PCG high-speed response boat. At 10:13 a.m., a People’s Liberation Army Navy helicopter with tail number 09 circled over the team four times. For safety reasons, the PCG halted pursuit after reaching 1.2 nautical miles east-southeast of Sandy Cay 5, with the team returning safely to Pag-asa Island at 10:48 a.m.
Environmental Impact and Aerial Maneuvers
Tarriela emphasized that the operation aimed to stop destructive fishing practices prohibited under the Philippine Fisheries Code and was not directed at any country. He noted that by obstructing Philippine authorities, the CCG failed to protect the marine environment and instead made it easier for a suspected violator to escape, calling the PLA Navy helicopter deployment an unnecessary act of intimidation.
Philippine Coast Guard deploys boats to investigate dynamite fishing
Why did the Philippine Coast Guard deploy boats near Pag-asa Island?
The inter-agency team deployed boats in response to reports of suspected dynamite fishing by foreign vessels near Sandy Cays 2 and 3, about three nautical miles west of Pag-asa Island.
How did the China Coast Guard interfere with the operation?
China Coast Guard ships 5102 and 21581 blocked the path of the Philippine team, sounded their horns, radio-challenged the boats, and shadowed them, with CCG 21581 coming within about 10 yards of the PCG high-speed response boat.
What action was taken regarding the suspected fishing vessel?
The Philippine team ordered the vessel to stop and radioed it several times, but the vessel ignored the orders, sailed southwest toward Zamora Reef, and escaped after the PCG abandoned pursuit for safety reasons.
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