Chinese Coast Guard vessels ram, fire water cannons at BFAR ship in Escoda Shoal. ABS-CBN News

ESCODA SHOAL (2nd UPDATE) — Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels on Sunday afternoon rammed and fired water cannons at a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship in Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. 

Journalists were on board the BFAR ship, BRP Datu Sanday, when the ramming happened. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. 

BRP Datu Sanday sailed to Escoda Shoal to provide fuel and food supply to fishermen near the shoal.

According to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, at least eight CCG vessels shadowed the BFAR ship as early as 10 a.m. on Sunday. 

The incident follows an August 19 incident when Chinese coast guard ships used dangerous maneuvers against two Philippine Coast Guard ships also conducting a resupply mission. 

"These unprofessional, aggressive and illegal actions pose serious risks to the safety of the Filipino crew and fishermen they were meant to serve. Despite these provocative maneuvers, the crew aboard the BFAR vessel maintains morale and remains safe and unharmed," said the Task Force in a statement. 

It also denied claims made by the Chinese side that it rescued Philippine personnel who fell into the sea.

"Claims suggesting that our personnel fell overboard and were subsequently rescued by the Chinese Coast Guard are completely unfounded. This fake news and misinformation serves as a clear illustration of the PRC's willingness to distort the truth and engage in disinformation to bolster its public image," said the Task Force. 

It said that the Philippine vessels were well within the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

"Hasa Hasa Shoal is located approximately 60 nautical miles from Rizal, Palawa while Escoda Shoal is about 110 nautical miles away, well within the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone." 

China has intensified its aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea even as the Philippines steps up efforts to de-escalate tensions in the waterway and despite a stream of condemnation from other nations calling out its behavior. 

China has routinely accused the Philippines of raising tensions in the West Philippine Sea and has, in the face of the Philippines expanding its engagements with the US and other security partners, warned nations from outside the region from getting involved. 

The West Philippine Sea is part of the larger South China Sea, most of which is still being claimed by Beijing despite an international ruling invalidating its assertions. 

On Sunday shortly before the latest incident, the Armed Forces of the Philippines vowed to maintain its deployment of forces in the West Philippine Sea.

Lt. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan, AFP deputy chief of staff, said Manila will persist in asserting its rights in the face of Beijing’s continued belligerence.

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