COURTESY: BFAR/BRP Datu Romapenet

WEST PHILIPPINE SEA — A Chinese missile vessel chased a Philippine vessel near the First Thomas Shoal or Bulig Shoal in the West Philippine Sea last week, which is considered the first time that such a ship chased a civilian vessel during its maritime patrols. 

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BRP Datu Romapenet – a civilian vessel under the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) – was on the way to the Hasa-Hasa Shoal (Half Moon Shoal)  Friday, September 27 to provide aid and other food supplies to fishermen in the area.

ABS-CBN News was aboard BRP Datu Romapenet when China’s Type 22 missile boat shadowed the Philippine vessel. A China Coast Guard ship was also nearby during the incident.  

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Dr. Chester Cabalza, director and founder of International Development and Security Cooperation, described the latest Chinese maritime aggression as alarming and unexpected.

“Nakakabahala itong insidente na ito lalong-lalo na missile ship ang nag-shadow sa ating BFAR ship. Hindi ito expected na nangyayari dahil alam natin na kapag grey ship, tulad ng missile ship na nakita natin, nagpapakita ng ngipin at lakas ang China,” said Cabalza in an interview.  

(This is alarming because it was a missile ship that shadowed our civilian vessel. We all know that if a grey ship was used, it was meant to intimidate us.)

“First time tayong makakita, itong Houbei missile ship na ito. Hindi natin ito nakikita pangkaraniwan sa West Philippine Sea dahil ang madalas nilang pinapadala ay ang mga Coast Guard ship… Ibang klase ito dahil missile ship,” the security analyst said.

(It was the first time that we spotted such ship in the West Philippine Sea.) 

According to non-profit military association US Naval Institute, the Houbei-class guided-missile craft from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is noticeable by its blue camouflage paint scheme. 

The US Naval Institute added that it could carry up to 12 crew members and 8 anti-ship cruise missiles.

Aside from shadowing the Philippines vessel, the missile ship pointed lasers at a BFAR plane three times when it was conducting maritime patrols alongside the civilian ship.

Cabalza said China wanted to “build some fear” and intimidate Philippine ships in the West Philippine Sea.

“Isang provocation ito at ang pagle-laser nila sa eroplano natin, hindi lang nila ginagawa sa atin ito, kundi ginagawa rin ito sa malalaking bansa tulad ng Australia, US, at nakita natin na ganitong greyzone tactics nila ginagawa pa rin nila sa atin. Hindi bago ito na ginagawa,” he said.

“We are not tolerating this kind of action coming from China… Kailangan ipaliwanag sa atin unang-una bakit nagpadala sila ng missile ship sa ating maritime features in the West Philippine Sea,” the security analyst added.

National Maritime Council spokesperson Undersecretary Alexander Lopez said the presence of China’s missile ship in the area was “illegal.”

Lopez clarified that while this was the first time that it chased the country’s civilian vessel, it had been previously spotted in the West Philippine Sea. 

“Wala silang karapatang maghabol, wala silang karapatan na i-intimidate yung mga civilian vessel. Ang mga ginagawa nila doon ay ilegal, aside doon sa kanilang physical presence… Masasabi kong first time na naghabol… pero matagal nang nagpapakita,” the retired vice admiral said.

“I doubt naman na gagamitin nila sa civilian vessel (yung missile). Pananakot lang yan, intimidation,” he added.

The official said they would wait for official reports on the matter as they come in and forward these to the foreign affairs department.

CHASED BY CHINESE CHOPPER

In a separate incident, a Chinese helicopter chased and flew close to BRP Datu Romapenet during its resupply mission near the Palawan mainland on Saturday afternoon. 

Datu Romapenet was distributing aid and food supplies to fishermen in the area when the Chinese chopper flew nearby the ship around 2 p.m. The incident happened 11 nautical miles southwest of Bombay Shoal, which was also near Sabina Shoal. 

An hour later., the Chinese chopper reappeared and flew as close as 20 meters from the civilian ship. This happened 113 nautical miles southwest of Mischief Reef, also known as Panganiban Reef and 55 nautical miles from mainland Palawan. 

Lopez said this was an “illegal” act by China. 

“Yung mga ganoon, I just hope the reports will be coming soon,” said Lopez. 

“We will consolidate these reports and we will bring these up to the Department of Foreign Affairs and the department will come up with an appropriate measure,” he added. 

FISHERMEN FRET

At Hasa-Hasa Shoal, around 100 fishermen received food packs, water, fuel, and medicine from the Philippine vessel. 

Among the beneficiaries was Benjamin Mijares, who said he recently experienced Chinese aggression. Mijares, 53, sailed for 4 days from Batangas just to get the aid. 

“Binabantayan kami na hindi kami makapasok banda sa Escoda… Minsan nagsa-siren sila, nagwa-wang wang,” he said. 

“Napakalaking alwan kasi kampante kami may kakampi tayo. Mula nung isang araw laging may nakaikot dito na Chinese navy. Sa gabi, nakikita din namin sila. Hindi kami natutulog, nagmamasid baka kung ano ang gawin,” he said.

Mijares said he was afraid of Chinese vessels’ threats against Filipino fishermen. 

“Baka mangyari na mag-iba ang takbo ng isip nila, banggain kami o i-water cannon. Wala kaming kasiguraduhan sa aming pamamalakaya sa dagat, kaya tulad nitong pagsu-survey ng BFAR, nagpapasalamat kami, parang kami ay may kakampi.”

China recently reiterated its "demand" to withdrawal the US missile system installed in the Philippines, saying it undermines the peace and stability in the region.

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But the Philippine military said it wanted the United States’ Typhon midrange capability missile in the Philippines permanently as part of the country’s defense.  

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