The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) strongly condemned as “barbaric” the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) harassment of a Filipino vessel attempting an emergency medical evacuation of a sick Philippine Navy sailor near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
“Again, this is another barbaric behavior of the Chinese government,” Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said during a press briefing.
“They don’t care about life; they have never cared about the health and safety of our personnel on board the BRP Sierra Madre. What the Chinese government is really concerned about is its illegal claim and their imperialist position when it comes to the South China Sea,” Tarriela added.
A China Coast Guard ship executed aggressive maneuvers and blasted a water cannon toward the PCG vessel BRP Cabra as it approached the area to fetch the ill sailor stationed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre.
The rusted World War II-era landing ship has served as an active Philippine military outpost on Ayungin Shoal since it was intentionally grounded in 1999 to assert sovereign rights over the feature.
Tarriela emphasized that maritime law and international norms require all nations to protect human life at sea and facilitate humanitarian assistance.
“Unfortunately, China, as a communist authoritarian country and it’s also godless, what morality can we expect from them?” Tarriela said. “This is clear evidence and proof that China never really cared about the preservation of life and that they are more concerned about their illegal claim in the entire West Philippine Sea.”