PCG: PH vessels at Rozul Reef harassed by China Coast Guard

The Philippine Coast Guard on Saturday reported that they and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources were harassed by the Chinese Coast Guard while conducting operations at the Rozul Reef on Thursday.

In its report, the PCG said their personnel and the BFAR were dropping floating aggregate devices (payao) when two CCG vessels (21551 and 21556), which were the “usual interdictors” in the resupply operation in Ayungin Shoal, arrived and started harassing Filipino fishing boats.

According to the PCG, the CCG vessels “went as far” as pretending to man their water cannons and threatened the Filipino fishermen.

The PCG said that the latest “unlawful behavior” demonstrated China’s aim to deprive “Filipinos of their rights to access the resources in our Exclusive Economic Zone.”

“This aggressive action stems from China’s greed and unfounded claim that these waters belong to them based on their imaginary dashed line,” the PCG continued.

The PCG noted that the Rozul Reef, located approximately 128 nautical miles away from Palawan, falls within the Philippines’ EEZ.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command last year confirmed cases of massive coral harvesting along Rozul (Iroquois) Reef by Chinese military militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

GMA News Online reached out to the Chinese Embassy for comment, but it had yet to reply as of posting time. — DVM, GMA Integrated News