US, Canada condemn Chinese vessels dangerous acts vs BFAR ships

June 24 ------ The United States and Canada expressed concern over the latest aggressive actions of China Coast Guard ships against Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels which were conducting legitimate maritime patrols near Bajo de Masinloc.

The United States, through its embassy in Manila, condemned China Coast Guard for hitting BFAR vessels with water cannons, saying it disrupted a lawful Philippine mission within the country's exclusive economic zone (EZZ). “The United States stands with the Philippines in upholding freedom of navigation and condemning the China Coast Guard’s dangerous actions that disrupted a lawful Philippine mission to provide supplies to fisherfolk within the Philippine EEZ,” the US Embassy in Manila said.

Canada has also expressed concern over the latest dangerous actions of China against Filipino vessels, which also included shadowing the BFAR ships. “Canada is concerned by another unprovoked incident involving Chinese vessels using water cannons against civilian BFAR Region 6 vessels supporting traditional fishing communities in the South China Sea,” the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines said on Monday. “Coercion and intimidation have no place in a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” it added.

On June 20, BRP Datu Matanam Taradapit (MMOV 3006) was hit with a water cannon by CCG vessel 4203 while delivering essential supplies to Filipino fisherfolk. It was allegedly followed by shadowing and unsafe maneuvers by Chinese militia vessels and PLA Navy ships within the Philippines' EEZ. The National Maritime Council (NMC) on Sunday called on China to stop their unlawful actions to maintain regional peace and stability.

Source: mb.com.ph