Exclusive: Photos show CCG boarding, inspecting, restricting Philippine vessels intruding into Ren'ai Jiao
Global Times
By Liu Xuanzun and Fan Wei Published: Jun 19, 2024 04:13 PM Updated: Jun 19, 2024 11:46 PM
Photos obtained by the Global Times exclusively from the China Coast Guard (CCG) on Wednesday show the CCG's interception, boarding, inspection and expelling of Philippine vessels when they illegally intruded into waters near China's Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef) in the South China Sea on Monday.
The CCG's law enforcement measures aimed at intercepting illegal Philippine supplies and did not feature direct measures against Philippine personnel, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday responding to Philippine claims that the CCG confiscated Philippine guns during the incident.
The CCG's control measures showed that the Philippines will not reach its goal of permanently occupying Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea, experts said, urging Philippine authorities to keep a sense of rationality and return to the right track of managing differences through talks and negotiations.
After reviewing the photos taken at the scene of the incident, a Chinese expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times that the Philippines' supply vessels were reinforced with hard shells in an apparent attempt to resist water cannons, as the CCG had deployed water cannons to warn away Philippine trespassing vessels in the past.
The Philippine vessels conducted dangerous maneuvers that threatened the safety of both sides, while the CCG's control measures were lawful, professional and restrained, the expert said.
Ironically, the Philippines' main supply ship had the words "safety first" painted on it, but the photos show that it dangerously approached and intentionally collided into Chinese vessels.
Compared with previous incidents, the latest event saw the CCG board and conduct inspections of the Philippine vessels, observers said.
A photo showed that one of the Philippines' hard-shelled inflatable boats became closely surrounded by four Chinese boats - a small boat from the CCG Ship 21551, a small boat from a Chinese fishing ship and two speed boats - when CCG law enforcement personnel boarded the Filipino vessel, inspecting onboard items and holding its crew at the boat's bow.
The release of the photos came after CCG spokesperson Gan Yu said in a statement on Monday that the Philippines broke its commitment by sending a supply ship and two inflatable boats to illegally enter the waters adjacent to the Ren'ai Jiao of China's Nansha Islands on Monday, in an attempt to deliver supplies to its illegally "grounded" warship.
In the process, the Philippine supply ship dangerously approached and intentionally collided into Chinese vessels, Gan said.
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