Courtesy: BFAR MANILA (UPDATED) -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said it conducted a resupply mission at Bajo De Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea despite water cannon from Chinese Coast Guard vessels.

In a statement on Tuesday, BFAR said it was conducting a routine resupply mission for Filipino fishers when CCG vessels "opened and directed their water cannons, but this failed to reach the PH civilian boats."

Two vessels of BFAR were in the area on Tuesday morning, namely BRP Cabaylo and BRP Datu Sanday.

Three Chinese Coast Guard vessels and one PLA-Navy vessel reportedly approached at close distance and shadowed their movement.

"The CCG vessels attempted to impede the mission of the BFAR vessels but were unsuccessful," the statement read.

"Notwithstanding the dangerous maneuvers and opening of water cannons, both BFAR vessels were able to resupply the Filipino fisherfolk in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc," they added.

A total of seven Filipino mother boats and 16 small fishing boats were given supplies.

"We commend the professionalism and commitment to duty of our BFAR personnel who conduct these missions despite the risks involved," the statement read.

"The BFAR will not be deterred from fulfilling its mission of patrolling all Philippine maritime zones and providing support and assistance to Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea pursuant to its mandate of enforcing all laws and rules and regulations in the management and conservation of fishery resources," they ended.

Last August 25, the China Coast Guard also rammed and fired a water cannon at a BFAR vessel in Escoda Shoal. 

PROTECT FISHERMEN

The water cannoning occurred after China's violent attack with Vietnamese fishermen in the South China Sea last week, as reported by local media.

The 10 Vietnamese fishermen were reportedly beaten with iron bars and robbed of thousands of dollars' worth of fish and equipment off the Paracel Islands – an archipelago in the resource-rich waterway claimed by China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

READ: Vietnam condemns China's 'brutal behavior' in fisher attack

Trinidad said the Philippines was concerned about the development and ensured that the Philippine Navy would have contingency measures should the same incident happen to Filipino fishermen.

"The Philippine Navy, the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), is always ready to protect our fisherfolk. We would not like to speculate if this will be done to us or not, but I again, we are more than ready, we have contingency plans in place in case acts like this will be conducted against our fishermen," he said. 

"I would like to inform them na magpatuloy lamang tayo sa pag-conduct ng pangingisda natin sapagkat hindi tayo puwedeng tumigil. Hindi natin puwedeng sabihin na manaig ang ginagawa ng PLA Navy, Coast Guard at maritime militia sa ating karagatan. Magpatuloy lamang kayo magisda at handang-handa po ang BFAR, ang coast guard at lalong-lalo na ang Armed Forces na tiyakin ang inyong seguridad."

CHINESE PRESENCE

The Philippine Navy monitored 190 Chinese vessels from September 30 to October 6 in the West Philippine Sea, including 28 People's Liberation Army Navy and China Coast Guard vessels in Ayungin Shoal, Escoda Shoal, and Bajo de Masinloc – three of the key features in the West Philippine Sea.  

There were nine other PLA Navy and CCG ships in other features.

China has for years sought to expand its presence in contested areas of the South China Sea, including parts of the West Philippine Sea, brushing aside an international ruling that its claim to most of the waterway has no legal basis.

It has built artificial islands armed with missile systems and runways for fighter jets, and deployed vessels that the Philippines says harass its ships and block fishing.

"This highlights the continued presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea that blatantly disregards the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling, which reaffirmed the Philippines' sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone," AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said. 

"The AFP remains committed to upholding international law and defending our territorial waters," she added. — With a report from Agence France-Presse