A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship fired its water cannons against a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) research vessel and ''sideswiped the vessel twice'' in Pag-Asa Cays for the first time.

According to BFAR, "CCG vessel 21559 water cannoned and sideswiped the BRP Datu Sanday twice, resulting in some damage to the latter’s port bow and smokestack, and putting at risk lives of its civilian personnel onboard" around 9:13 am on Wednesday.

"This incident marks the first time water cannons have been used against DA-BFAR research vessels in the area of the Pag-Asa Cays," it stated.

In a statement, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said the China Coast Guard's ''aggressive actions against a lawful Philippine civilian mission near Sandy Cay recklessly endangered lives and threaten regional stability.''

China's national English language paper Global Times, quoting a CCG spokesperson, said in its online edition that the Philippine ship ''ignored stern warnings from the Chinese side and dangerously approached CCG 21559, which at time was engaged in routine rights protection and law enforcement operations, which resulted in a minor collision.''

''The responsibility lies entirely with the Philippine side,'' the paper reported, citing Liu Dejun, CCG spokesperson.

BRP Datu Sanday was conducting a routine mission with a Filipino scientific team to collect sand samples as part of a marine scientific research initiative with BRP Datu Pagbuaya when they were harassed within the vicinity of Sandy Cay 2 which is within the territorial waters of the country.

"Despite the aggressive interference, dangerous maneuvers, and illegal acts by the CCG and Chinese maritime militia vessels, the Philippine scientific team was able to complete its operations in Pag-Asa Cays 1, 2 and 3," it stated.

"The incident occurred within the territorial sea of the Philippines in the area of Pag-Asa Island and Pag-asa Cay 2, both which, along with the other cays, form part of the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea. DA-BFAR remains committed to scientific integrity, sustainable fisheries management, and the protection of national interests in the West Philippine Sea, in accordance with international and domestic law," it added.

In an online briefing, Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea noted that aside from harassment conducted by the two Chinese Coast Guard vessels with bow numbers 21559 and 5103, a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) helicopter also flew on top of the BFAR ships.

"The PLA Navy helicopter was also launched at a very low altitude of less than 500 meters on top of the BFAR vessels. The tail number of a PLA Navy helicopter is number 52," he said.

"We know no matter whatever we do in our approaches, whenever we sail towards Pag-asa Cay 2 the Chinese government, particularly the China Coast Guard, has been very aggressive every time we conduct marine scientific research," he added.

Tarriela assures the harassment and intimidation by Chinese vessels will not stop the Philippine government from doing its marine scientific research in the area.

"It will never stop our government in conducting all this marine scientific research and that we have sovereignty over these waters and that despite their harassment and bullying, our BFAR and Coast Guard will continue our marine scientific research here and it will not stop us in doing these operations," he added. Robina Asido/DMS