West Philippine Sea, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has deployed surface vessels and aircraft after reports of harassment by Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels against Filipino fishermen on March 17.

Working closely with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the PCG is ensuring the safety of Filipino fishermen while delivering fuel subsidies, ice, and food packs.

Witnesses reported dangerous maneuvers by Chinese vessels 21605, 3107, and 3103, and militia boats using sirens and Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) to drive fishermen away and disrupt their legal fishing operations.

A PCG aircraft conducted a Maritime Domain Awareness flight, confirming the presence of five Chinese Coast Guard vessels, three People’s Liberation Army Navy vessels, two Chinese Maritime Militia vessels, and more than twenty Filipino fishing boats. Yellow buoys installed by China last year were also observed.

The PCG aircraft actively challenged the illegal presence of Chinese and PLA vessels, marking the first encounter with a People’s Liberation Army Air Force asset attempting to contest a PCG aircraft. Surface vessels from PCG and BFAR were tracked en route to respond to the ongoing harassment.

PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan reiterated the agency’s commitment to protecting Filipino fishermen and upholding Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea in line with national and international law, including the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, UNCLOS, and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

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