MANILA (UPDATE 2) — The Chinese Coast Guard used water cannon on a Philippine resupply convoy to Ayungin Shoal and also rammed civilian ship Unaizah Mae 1, according to Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela.

Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said in a post on X that the convoy comprising BRP Cabra and civilian ships Unaizah Mae 1 and M/L Kalayaan was met with water cannons and maneuvering by Chinese ships, endangering the lives of the Filipino crew.

Regular RORE to BRP SIERRA MADRE this morning. BRP CABRA, Unaizah Mae 1, and M/L Kalayaan water cannoned by China Coast Guard. M/L Kalayaan suffered serious engine damage. Contrary to China Coast Guard disinformation, UM1 rammed by CCG vessel. pic.twitter.com/wOt55KVu8k

— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) December 10, 2023

"M/L Kalayaan suffered serious engine damage. Contrary to China Coast Guard disinformation, [Unaizah Mae 1] rammed by CCG vessel," he also said.

"We condemn, once again, China's latest unprovoked acts of coercion and dangerous maneuvers against a legitimate and routine Philippine rotation and resupply mission to Avungin Shoal that has put the lives of our people at risk," the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said in a separate statement.

A Philippine Coast Guard vessel is towing M/L Kalayaan back to Ulugan Bay in Palawan, the task force also said.

BRP Cabra, previously damaged in an incident with Chinese vessels in October, also "suffered damage to its mast after being directly targeted by the full strength of the water cannon of the China Coast Guard."

The task force reported that despite China's "extreme and reckless actions," Unaizah Mae 1 successfully reached BRP Sierra Madre, saying that "resupply is ongoing as of this writing."

It also stressed that the Philippines exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Ayungin Shoal, citing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitral award that China continues to disregard.

"As a low tide elevation, Ayungin Shoal can neither be the subject of a sovereignty claim nor is it capable of appropriation under international law. China cannot lawfully exercise sovereignty over it," it said.

Tarriela said that Beijing's actions in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal have no basis in international law.

SCS Probing Initiative, an NGO that favors China's position in the South China Sea, earlier Sunday cited a Chinese Coast Guard report claiming Unaizah Mae 1 ignored warnings and "swerved in an unprofessional and dangerous manner and deliberately rammed CCG boat 21556."

'CHINA AGGRESSION''

In a statement on X, US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson called out "[People's Republic of China] aggression" that she said "undermines regional stability in defiance of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific."

The Philippines has mended fences with the US, its treaty ally and former colonizer, under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and has increased engagement after the previous Duterte administration's pursuit of better relations with countries like China and Russia.

Carlson said Sunday that the US "stands with the Philippines and partners in vehemently condemning the PRC's repeated illegal and dangerous actions against Philippine vessels, including disrupting the Philippine resupply mission to [BRP Sierra Madre] today."

In a separate statement, French Ambassador Marie Fontanel pointed out that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea was signed exactly 41 years ago on Sunday.

"Today, more than ever, France recalls the value of international law to ensure freedom of navigation and is, once again, seriously concerned by the use of water cannons in the Philippine EEZ to prevent a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre," she also said.

Carlson and Fontanel issued similar statements on Saturday after Chinese ships blocked Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ships headed to Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough, Panatag Shoal)

SECOND COLLISION SINCE OCTOBER

This is the second collision since October involving a Chinese ship and Philippine vessels heading to Ayungin, where BRP Sierra Madre is grounded.

• Philippines files diplomatic protest over Chinese actions in West Philippine Sea

BRP Cabra and Unaizah Mae 2 were damaged in the incident that prompted the Department of Foreign Affairs to summon Chinese Embassy officials and to file a diplomatic protest.

The incident on Sunday follows attempts by the Chinese Coast Guard to keep a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) mission to distribute fuel and food to fishers at Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag, Scarborough) off Zambales.

China said that its coast guard had lawfully taken control measures against three BFAR vessels "intruding" into waters near Scarborough Shoal, which China calls Huangyan Island, on Saturday.

The Chinese side has stressed several times that China holds indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Island and its adjacent waters, and has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the relevant waters.

• Chinese ships, water cannon try to stop BFAR resupply at Scarborough