Press Conference of Philippine Coast Guard 8/31/2024

Summary

In a press conference, the Philippine Coast Guard reported an incident where a Chinese Coast Guard vessel, 5202, rammed the Philippine vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua within the Sibutu Shoal. The incident occurred without provocation, resulting in significant damage to the Philippine vessel. Despite the harassment, the Philippine Coast Guard remains committed to its operations within the country's exclusive economic zone, asserting their legal and legitimate presence as per the 2016 Arbitral ruling.

Takeaways

• 😀 The press conference was held by the Philippine Coast Guard to address an incident involving a Chinese Coast Guard vessel ramming a Philippine vessel.
• 🚢 The incident occurred at Sabina Shoal (also known as Shoal of Escoda) where the BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRB 9701) was deployed since April 15.
• 📹 Videos were presented to detail the events leading up to and including the ramming incident by the Chinese Coast Guard vessel 5205.
• ⚓️ The BRP Teresa Magbanua was anchored with the intention of loitering around the shoal when it was approached by Chinese maritime forces.
• 🛑 The Chinese Coast Guard vessel 5205 performed dangerous maneuvers, ramming the port bow and starboard quarter of the BRP Teresa Magbanua.
• 🔧 The ramming caused damage to the bridge and freeboard of the BRP Teresa Magbanua, with a hole resulting from the direct impact.
• ⏰ The incident happened around 12:07 PM, and the Philippine Coast Guard vessel continued its operation within the area after the incident.
• 👥 There were no reported injuries to the personnel on board the BRP Teresa Magbanua.
• 🏢 The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, expressed serious concern and communicated with the Chinese Embassy regarding the incident.
• ⚖️ The Philippine Coast Guard maintains that their operations are legal and legitimate within their exclusive economic zone, asserting that the Chinese Coast Guard's presence is illegal.

Q & A

What was the purpose of the press conference held by the Philippine Coast Guard?

The purpose of the press conference was to inform stakeholders and the public about the incident where a Chinese Coast Guard vessel rammed the Philippine Coast Guard vessel, BRP Teresa Magbanua, and to present detailed information and videos of the event.

Who were the speakers at the press conference?

The speakers at the press conference were Under Secretary Alexander S. Lopez, the spokesperson of the National Maritime Council, and Commodore J, the spokesperson of the National Task Force of Coast Guard matters of the West Philippine Sea.

What was the location of the incident involving the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua?

The incident occurred at the Scarborough Shoal (also referred to as Shoal of Escoda), where the Chinese Coast Guard vessel rammed the BRP Teresa Magbanua.

What were the Chinese vessels involved in the incident?

The Chinese vessels involved in the incident included two PLA Navy tag boats (175 and 185), two China Coast Guard vessels (4301 and 3104), and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels, as well as China Coast Guard vessel 5205, which was not originally deployed there.

What actions did the Chinese Coast Guard vessel 5205 take during the incident?

The Chinese Coast Guard vessel 5205 carried out dangerous maneuvers, resulting in direct ramming on the port bow of the BRP Teresa Magbanua, and later intentionally rammed the vessel on the starboard quarter and port beam.

What damages were sustained by the BRP Teresa Magbanua as a result of the ramming?

The BRP Teresa Magbanua sustained damages on the bridge, the freeboard, and there was a hole resulting from the direct ramming conducted by the China Coast Guard vessel.

Was there any injury reported on the Philippine Coast Guard vessel after the incident?

As of the time of the press conference, there were no reported injured personnel on the BRP Teresa Magbanua.

What was the status of the BRP Teresa Magbanua after the incident?

As of 2:59 PM that day, the BRP Teresa Magbanua had dropped its anchor and was still located within the Scarborough Shoal.

How did the Philippine Coast Guard respond to the incident in terms of their presence in the area?

Despite the incident, the Philippine Coast Guard stated that there would be no reason for them to withdraw their Coast Guard vessels from the area, as their deployment is purely for legal and legitimate Coast Guard operations within their own exclusive economic zone.

What was the reaction of the Philippine government to the incident?

The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, issued a statement expressing serious concern over the actions of the Chinese vessels and conveyed this to the Chinese Embassy and the Embassy of the Philippines in Beijing.

What is the legal basis for the Philippine Coast Guard's presence in the Scarborough Shoal?

The Philippine Coast Guard's presence in the Scarborough Shoal is based on the 2016 Arbitration ruling, which recognizes the area as within the Philippines' 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone, where they exercise sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

Outlines

00:00

🚢 Press Conference on Collision Incident

The Philippine Coast Guard holds a press conference to address a collision incident involving a Chinese Coast Guard vessel and the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua. Under Secretary Alexander S. Lopez and Commodore J. Tel provide details on the incident, which occurred near the Sabina Shoal. The Chinese vessel is accused of ramming the Philippine vessel twice, causing damage. The press conference includes a video presentation with annotations by Commodore Tel, illustrating the events as they unfolded.

05:01

📹 Video Presentation of Collision Details

Commodore J. Tel presents a video detailing the collision incident, showing the BRP Teresa Magbanua surrounded by Chinese maritime forces. The video identifies specific Chinese vessels involved, including PLA Navy tag boats and China Coast Guard vessels. It highlights the dangerous maneuver by the China Coast Guard vessel 5205, which rammed the Philippine vessel twice. The presentation also shows the damage sustained by the BRP Teresa Magbanua and confirms that the vessel has re-anchored within the shoal area after the incident. The Philippine Coast Guard emphasizes that there were no provocations from their side, and the actions of the Chinese Coast Guard are seen as unprovoked and escalatory.

10:02

🗣️ Addressing Maritime Tensions and Actions

The Philippine Coast Guard reiterates its commitment to continue operations in the area despite the incident and the presence of Chinese maritime forces. The commandant's conversation with the commanding officer of BRP Teresa Magbanua indicates no reported injuries, and the vessel's seaworthiness is to be evaluated. The incident is taken seriously by the national management council, and the Department of Foreign Affairs has issued statements expressing concern to the Chinese Embassy. The Philippine Coast Guard clarifies that their operations are purely coast guard activities, not involving the Navy, and are conducted to uphold legal and legitimate operations within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

15:05

🌏 Sovereignty and Legal Considerations

The Philippine Coast Guard emphasizes that the Sabina Shoal is well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, and the presence of Chinese Coast Guard vessels is considered illegal. The department of Foreign Affairs is studying the situation, particularly regarding the provisional understanding at the Ayungin Shoal. The press conference concludes with a clear message that the Philippines exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction over the area, as per the 2016 Arbitration ruling, and that the deployment of the BRP Teresa Magbanua is for legitimate Coast Guard operations.

Keywords

💡Philippine Coast Guard

The Philippine Coast Guard is the country's maritime law enforcement agency responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the nation's waters. In the context of the video, the Philippine Coast Guard is central to the incident being discussed, where one of its vessels, BRP Teresa Magbanua, was involved in a ramming incident with a Chinese Coast Guard vessel. The script mentions the Philippine Coast Guard's deployment and operations within the exclusive economic zone, highlighting its role in maritime security and territorial defense.

💡Chinese Coast Guard

The Chinese Coast Guard is a maritime law enforcement agency in China, similar to the Philippine Coast Guard. In the video, it is mentioned as the party involved in the ramming incident with the Philippine Coast Guard vessel. The script describes the Chinese Coast Guard's actions as aggressive and in violation of collision regulations, which resulted in damage to the Philippine vessel. This keyword is crucial for understanding the conflict and the diplomatic implications of the incident.

💡BRP Teresa Magbanua

BRP Teresa Magbanua, also referred to as MRV 9701 in the script, is a vessel of the Philippine Coast Guard. The video script details an incident where this vessel was rammed by a Chinese Coast Guard vessel. The name of the vessel is significant as it represents the Philippine side in the maritime incident, and the script provides details of the damages it sustained, emphasizing the severity of the encounter.

💡Ramming Incident

A ramming incident refers to a collision between two vessels, often intentional and aggressive in nature. In the video, the term is used to describe the event where the Chinese Coast Guard vessel allegedly rammed the Philippine Coast Guard vessel. The script provides a detailed account of the incident, including the maneuvers leading up to the collision and the subsequent actions of the Chinese vessel, which are central to the narrative of the press conference.

💡Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

The Exclusive Economic Zone is a maritime zone prescribed by international law, extending up to 200 nautical miles from a coastal state's baseline, over which the state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources. The script mentions that the incident occurred within the Philippine EEZ, which is significant as it underscores the territorial rights and sovereign actions of the Philippine Coast Guard in conducting operations within this area.

💡Collision Regulations

Collision regulations, often referred to as the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), are a set of rules to prevent collisions between vessels. The script mentions that the Chinese Coast Guard vessel allegedly ignored these regulations during the incident. This keyword is important as it frames the Chinese vessel's actions as not only aggressive but also in violation of international maritime law.

💡Press Conference

A press conference is a formal meeting with members of the news media to provide information or make an announcement. In the video, the press conference serves as the platform for the Philippine Coast Guard to inform the public and stakeholders about the ramming incident. The script outlines the details presented during the conference, including the operational details and the Philippine Coast Guard's stance on the incident.

💡Maritime Militia

Maritime militia refers to civilian vessels that can be mobilized to support a country's maritime claims or operations. The script mentions the presence of Chinese Maritime Militia in the area, indicating a broader strategic deployment by China in the region. This keyword is relevant as it adds context to the scale of China's maritime presence and its potential role in the incident.

💡Diplomatic Protest

A diplomatic protest is a formal expression of objection or disapproval by one state to another regarding an action or policy. The script references China's filing of a diplomatic protest against the presence of the Philippine Coast Guard vessel in the area. This keyword is significant as it illustrates the diplomatic tensions between the two countries and the broader geopolitical context of the incident.

💡Seaworthiness

Seaworthiness refers to the condition of a vessel that makes it fit to go to sea, indicating that it is safe and capable of withstanding the rigors of maritime travel. The script mentions the need to evaluate the seaworthiness of the BRP Teresa Magbanua after the incident, which is crucial for determining the vessel's operational status and the safety of future missions.

💡National Maritime Council

The National Maritime Council is a body that coordinates and integrates policies and programs related to maritime affairs in the Philippines. The script identifies the spokesperson of the National Maritime Council as one of the key speakers at the press conference, indicating the council's role in addressing and managing maritime incidents. This keyword is important for understanding the governance structure and response mechanisms in place for such maritime events.

Highlights

Press conference held by the Philippine Coast Guard to inform about an incident involving a Chinese Coast Guard vessel ramming a Philippine vessel.

Under Secretary Alexander S. Lopez and Commodore J. Tel are the spokespersons for the event.

Incident occurred at SCoda SH or Sabina Shoal where the Chinese vessel rammed the BRP Teresa Magbanua.

BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRB 9701) has been deployed in the area since April 15.

Chinese Maritime forces, including two PLA Navy tag boats and two China Coast Guard vessels, were present.

At 08:50 AM, MRV 9701 was anchored with the intention of loitering around the shoal.

Chinese Coast Guard vessels and maritime militia surrounded the MRV 9701 after noticing its movement.

China Coast Guard vessel 5205 approached and rammed the port bow of MRB 9701 at 12:07 PM.

China Coast Guard vessel 5202 ignored collision regulations during the incident.

The Chinese vessel also rammed the starboard quarter and port beam of the Philippine vessel.

Damages to the BRP Teresa Magbanua include a hole in the bridge and freeboard.

As of 2:59 PM, MRV 9701 has dropped anchor inside Escoda Shoal.

No reported injuries to personnel on the Philippine Coast Guard vessel.

The Philippine Coast Guard is evaluating the damages and ensuring the seaworthiness of the vessel.

The incident occurred despite the Philippine vessel's unprovoked actions and presence.

The Philippine government has issued a statement to the Chinese Embassy expressing serious concern.

The Philippine Coast Guard is committed to continuing its operations within the exclusive economic zone.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is studying the incident and considering appropriate actions.

SCoda Shoal is within the Philippines' 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone, as per the 2016 Arbitration ruling.

The Chinese Coast Guard's presence is considered illegal by the Philippines.

The press conference concluded with an open floor for questions from the attendees.

Transcripts

good afternoon

everyone welcome to the headquarters of

the Philippine Coast

Guard I am uh under secretary

Alexander s Lopez the spokesperson of

the national Maritime Council and with

me is uh commodor J

Tel the spokesperson of national task

force of Coast Guard matters of the West

philippin

sea the purpose of this uh press

conference is to inform our stakeholders

both internal and

external our uh viewing public of what

happened today at scoda sh or Sabina sh

where the Chinese Coast Guard vessel

rammed the Philippine Coast Guard vessel

V

Magan and to uh give you a more uh

detailed

presentation we have videos here to be

presented with commodor Tel giving or

annotating the video as uh as events

transpired this morning so

please uh thank you sir um good

afternoon everyone um as what yusk Lopez

mentioned I'm going to present to you

the uh details that

transpired that resulted to um the

ramming incident of the Philippine Coast

Guard vessel BRP Teresa

magbanua as you are all aware BRP Teresa

magbanua mrb

9701 is um deployed inside the sh of

escoda uh since April 15 next

slide if you're going to look at the the

screen you can see um mrv

9701 surrounded by uh China Coast uh

Chinese Maritime forces uh you can uh

find uh two pla Navy tag boats 175 and

tagbo 185 you can also see uh two China

Coast Guard vessels China Coast Guard

4301 and

3104 and um Chinese Maritime militia in

different areas that are

uh approximate within the distance of

mrv

9701 around 8:50 in the morning mrv

9701 hi in its anchor with the intention

of loitering around the scoda escoda sh

and um since the Chinese martime forces

uh noticed the movement of the chin the

Philippine Coast Guard vessel that's the

time that uh more uh China Coast Guard

vessels are running dve and uh more

Chinese Maritime militia vessels also

supported all of this Maritime forces to

surround our

vessel I'll just get closer no to point

it on the

monitor so this is mrv 9701 as I said no

and um based on the Drone shot that we

are presenting now you can see two pla

Navy tagbo vessels 1 75 and Pla Navy

tagbo 185 and

then initial screen there are only two

China Coast Guard vessels that you can

see 4303 and

3104 and then what happened next is that

one of the Chinese Coast Guard vessel

upon learning that we're going to we are

heaving in our anchor they blow their

horn no uh there is a blaring uh blowing

of horn that happen when we uh heave in

our anchor next

slide and then all of a sudden there is

another China Coast Guard vessel that um

is also approaching and getting near mrb

9701 that is China Coast Guard vessel

5205 now it is very important for you to

take note of the bound number of this

China Coast Guard vessel that is not

originally deployed that surround a

Philippine Coast Guard vessel next

slide because around

1207 when the Philippine Coast Guard

vessel is already on the Move

click click video

play China Coast Guard vessel

5205 carried out a danger ous maneuver

resulting to its um direct ramming on

the port bow of mrrb

9701 obviously the Chinese Coast Guard

vessel

5202 has uh ignored Collision regulation

because of such

action and then what happened next after

this in 1207 is that it would turn

around

next

slide and then it will um reach the

starboard quarter of the vessel click

the

video it will also directly and

intentionally Ram mrb

9701 on our starboard quarter a few

minutes after it carried out a dangerous

maneuver and rum the port bow of Teresa

magbanua

after this it went around and then did

another ramming to CH uh Philippine

Coast Guard vessel next

slide on the port beam of mrb

9701 China Coast Guard

5205 a

5202 has once again directly and

intentionally rum the Philippine ghost

guard vessel it is important for us to

take note that this ramming happened

despite of our unprovoked action and

presence in his kod show the Philippine

Coast Guard vessel did not provoke or

did not do anything while we are uh

loitering around scod shol but the

Chinese Coast Guard carried out

dangerous Maneuvers despite of being

unprovoked next

slide these are the damages that the

beer PESA magb has inquired as a result

of the ram the direct ramming and

intentional um Collision carried out by

China Coast Guard

5202 there is a damage on the bridge sng

and also on the freeboard of the

9707 9701

next um there is this hole that also was

a result of a direct ramming conducted

by uh the China Coast Guard and also on

this part next

slide as we are conducting this press

conference now I would like to report

also to everyone that the Philippine

Coast Guard vessel mrv

9701 as of 1459 or 2:59 p.m. this

afternoon has already dropped its anchor

uh located also within inside um escod

show next

slide so that ends my um operational

details

briefing thank you very much commodor

T so with those operational details of

what happened this morning we are now

open for uh your questions thank you

based on the conversation of the

commandant Admiral Ron Hil gavan to the

commanding officer of mrb

9701 um there were no reported um

injured Personnel of uh vpa

magbo as of this time we still don't

have the details of um the the uh

damages that we incurred um it will

still be evaluated um I think uh the

commant has already mentioned that there

is a need for us uh to send our um uh

Team to evaluate and to ensure uh the

seaworthiness of BRP Tesa magbanua

despite of the damages that she incurred

as a result of the direct ramming of the

Chinese Coast Guard

since August

8

8 I don't think so the last um incident

that we had was August 19 um the be

vessel was um uh launch um there was a

flare that were launched by the pla Air

Force and then 22 August uh the B

aircraft in Zamora Reef 25 August was

the B VP V vels uh B fire vessels uh dat

andai also from hassah hasatu scod and

27 August was the 4409 and

4411 so this the

fif

yes I I think that would be a different

spot um it is important for us to note

that because of the presence of

concentrated martime forces from the

previous um place where we Dro our

anchor it would no longer be possible

for the Coast Guard to once again go

back to its uh position where she

dropped her anchor sir

how I'm sorry I don't have the details

for

that as far as the Philippine coastar is

concerned as what um the commandant has

been mentioning

um our role for us to deploy our Coast

Guard vessel is to carry out Coast Guard

operation um these are this is the

commitment of the commandant to the

president that uh despite of the

harassment The Bullying activities and

um escalatory action of the Chinese

Coast Guard the Philippine Coast Guard

vessel Teresa magbanua or any other

replacement of the vessels there will be

no reason for us to uh withdraw our

Coast Guard vessels there

no uh this is purely a coast guard uh

activity

very the Coast Guard vessel they are

conducting patrols or even you know from

the past days they're providing

Provisions to the Coast Guard Personnel

so the Navy is not part of this activity

purely Co activity

well the the the position of our

government especially the national

management Council we take this with

serious concern that's why uh through

our uh cognition Department Department

of Foreign Affairs we have uh issued

statement

uh to the Chinese Embassy and even to

the Embassy of our Philippines in in

Beijing uh issuing our serious concern

with this uh acts of the Chinese

vessels um I'm sorry we don't discuss

operational details um when it comes to

Coast Guard

well this is part of the reports that we

will be submitting to the Department of

Foreign Affairs and and then the DFA

will come up with its own study and to

come up with the most appropriate uh

actions on their part

well it's important for us to understand

that scod show has been an issue for the

Chinese government uh since we deployed

uh BRP magb last April 15 this has

always been um a reason for China to um

always uh make it an issue they even

filed a diplomatic protest

for brps magb to be um uh to withdraw

from scod they also use uh different

platforms to highlight that uh they are

seeing this as a sem semi grounded or um

a possible place for creating uh forward

deployment base so as far as the Chinese

Coast Guard is concerned these are their

different appreciation of our deployment

for Teresa magbanua but as I said for

the Philippine Coast Guard the reason

and objective of the deployment of

tereso magman is only purely for us to

carry out a legal and legitimate Coast

Guard operation within our own exclusive

economic

zone let us be clear about it the SC is

75 naal miles from Mainland

ban it's within well within our 200

exclusive economic

zone in the 2016 Arbiter ruling so we

exercise sovereignty Sovereign rights

and jurisdiction over the area so the

Chinese Coast Guard vessels are the ones

uh illegally uh presence there are

illegal we are there on theal

basis let us be very clear about it

it is part of the study of actually the

department of Foreign Affairs now uh we

were actually hoping that the

provisional understanding there at the

aan sh would cover s but it did not

happen so the DFA is really serious

studing uh that matter

we were actually hoping that uh the the

condition standing would cover the other

areas if not the whole

but well

we okay are you are we

good yes

sir

so

uh won't be stating anymore thank you

very much for coming over uh we hope to

see you

again okay thank you good afternoon for

everyone