Chinese vessels have once again harassed Filipino boats and ships on a humanitarian mission at Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Panatag or Scarborough Shoal, in the West Philippine Sea. “China Coast Guard (CCG) ships utilized water cannons to obstruct and prevent BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) vessels from approaching the Filipino fishing vessels eagerly awaiting the oil subsidy and grocery packs,” according to a statement from the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS). The task force referred to three BFAR vessels – Datu Sanday, Datu Bankaw and Datu Tamblot – on a “regular humanitarian and support mission of providing oil subsidy and grocery packs to over 30 Filipino fishing vessels near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea” yesterday.

Ong, G., & Cayabyab, M. J. (2023, December 10). China fires water cannon on Philippines humanitarian ships. The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 2.