PH supply vessel water cannoned by China Coast Guard, suffers ‘heavy damage’

A Philippine vessel carrying supplies for Filipino troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre suffered “heavy” damage after receiving water cannon blasts from China Coast Guard (CCG) ships in its approach to Ayungin Shoal.

In a series of updates to the media, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that as of 8:52 a.m., the Unaizah May 4 (UM4) “sustained heavy damages… due to the continued blasting of water cannons” from two CCG vessels.

The CCG had continuously impeded the voyage of the UM4 and its escort vessels on Saturday.

According the PCG, at past 6 a.m., a CCG vessel performed a “dangerous maneuver of crossing the bow” of UM4.

About an hour later, the CCG then conducted a “reverse blocking maneuver” against UM4 on the latter’s approach to Ayungin Shoal “causing near collision.”

Just minutes later, Philippine Coast Guard vessel MRRV 4409 was “impeded and encircled” by a CCG vessel and two Chinese militia ships. The PCG reported that, “MRRV 4409 has been isolated from the resupply boat due to the irresponsible and provocative behavior of the Chinese maritime forces, who have shown a disregard for the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS).”

Right before 8 a.m., the CCG “started blasting water cannon” at UM4 “deliberately targeting and hitting supply boat.” Succeeding videos from the PCG showed that the supply vessel received sustained water cannon blasts from the CCG.

At 8:38 a.m., two CCG vessels directed water cannons at the UM4, which eventually sustained heavy damage.

The UM4 is the same vessel that was damaged in a water canon attack by the China Coast Guard earlier this month. Four Filipino Navy crew members were injured in that incident.

Meanwhile, a report from Reuters quoted the China Coast Guard as saying that it took control measures against Philippine vessels in the Second Thomas Shoal and Spratly Islands waters on Saturday.  — VDV, GMA Integrated News