MANILA (2nd UPDATE)— Chinese vessels blocked and carried out dangerous maneuvers against their ships off Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea during a recent support mission, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Wednesday.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG's spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the incident happened on June 30 while they were escorting the naval operation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to Ayungin also called Second Thomas Shoal and which China calls "Ren'ai Jiao."

The Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels reached a distance of 10.59 nautical miles away from Ayungin Shoal, said Tarriela, and were near the two Philippine Coast Guard vessels BRP Malabrigo at BRP Malapascua.

"Ang ginawa nila, they came close sa ating dalawang Philippine Coast Guard vessels with an approximate distance of 100 yards, while at the same time, ang ginawa ng ating 2 Coast Guard vessel, para ma-prevent itong possible banggaan, they have to decrease the speed," said Tarriela in a televised briefing.

Video from PTV

"The intention of these two vessels were to support the naval operation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines sa sinabi na Ayungin Shoal. They were deployed in Escoda Shoal," he added.

Tarriela said the PCG aircraft also received radio challenges from the Chinese ships.

"While at the same time, they are doing this maneuvering and blocking and harassing, shadowing of the PCG vessels, they are also conducting radio challenges. They (China Coast Guard radio challenge) were (saying) that Ayungin Shoal, they have full jurisdiction over it, and we are not supposed to be in that area."

Despite the aggression, the AFP successfully carried out its mission at the Ayungin shoal, he said.

The PCG also spotted 2 People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessels at a distance of 9 nautical miles from Ayungin, which Tarriela describes as concerning.

"It appears that the [Chinese Coast Guard vessels] are exerting additional effort to prevent the PCG from reaching Ayungin Shoal," the spokesperson said in a statement.

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"This is particularly alarming as the Philippine Navy's naval operation is solely humanitarian in nature. Despite this, the Chinese have deployed their warships, raising even greater concerns," he said.

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On top of these, they also monitored 6 Chinese maritime militia vessels that swarmed and attempted to block them from entering Ayungin, he said.

"Hindi tayo hinabol actually. The Philippine Coast Guard vessels are being blocked to enter, to come close sa Ayungin Shoal because we are supporting the Naval operation ng Armed Forces of the Philippines during that time," he said.

Tarriela said that nonetheless, they were able to complete the naval operation and were able to get out of the shoal safely.

"Wala namang naging escalation or tension. The only thing we experienced itong shadowing and blocking ng Chinese Coast Guard vessels," he said.

The 2016 award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration affirmed that that the Ayungin Shoal is part of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Philippines.

It is 105.77 nautical miles from the nearest Philippine province of Palawan.

China, which has built artificial islands on reefs and constructed military facilities and airstrips, is disregarding the arbitral ruling.

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In January, Filipino fishermen reported that the CCG harassed them at the Ayungin Shoal. The following month, the CCG directed a military-grade laser light to the PCG's BRP Malapascua in the same area.

On April 23, two CCG vessels "intercepted" PCG vessels near the Ayungin Shoal, exhibiting "aggressive tactics" towards BRP Malapascua and Malabrigo.

The PCG said it submitted a report about the latest incident to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has promised to modernize the PCG's equipment and facilities for its critical role in defending the country's territory and maintaining peace, which he said has become bigger from the usual search and rescue operations, as well as boundary patrols.

- with a report from Jacque Manabat, ABS-CBN News

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