A Filipino crewman on board a vessel operated by the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) was injured after two China Coast Guard ships harassed BRP Datu Piang using water cannons on Tuesday.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela said BRP Datu Gumbay Piang was targeted by the CCG ships while engaged in sustaining the “Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda”, a humanitarian initiative near Bajo De Masinloc with the PCG.

The China Coast Guard (CCG) accused a Philippine vessel of ramming its ship.

In a post at the website of the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China, China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesperson Gan Yu admitted that the CCG used of water cannons against the Philippine vessel.

"At around 10 am, one of the Philippine vessels, with the hull number 3014, ignored multiple warnings from the Chinese side and deliberately rammed into a CCG ship in an unprofessional and dangerous manner," Gan said.

Gan stressed that the "Philippine side bears full responsibility for the collision" claiming that its "intentional infringement and provocative actions are malicious in nature".

Tarriela said "CCG 5201 directed its water cannon at the starboard side of the BRP Datu Gumbay Piang, which was located 14 nautical miles east of BDM" around 9:14 am.

"This aggressive action lasted for about 29 minutes, resulting in significant damage including shattered glass from the aft window of the bridge, damage to the captain's cabin partitions, and a short circuit affecting electrical outlets and five outdoor air conditioning units," he said.

"One personnel from DA-BFAR sustained injuries due to the shattered glass caused by the water cannon. Simultaneously, CCG 21562 engaged the vessel from the port side, also utilizing water cannon fire while positioned 17 nautical miles east of BDM Shoal," he added.

Tarriela said a People’s Liberation Army-Navy warship with bow number 525 also issued a radio broadcast announcing live fire exercises which caused significant panic and fear among Filipino fishermen in the area.

"Despite the hostile actions, the PCG and DA-BFAR remain committed to upholding our maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea and protecting the safety and security of the Filipino fishermen," he said.

Tarriela did not give information on the alleged ramming incident claimed by the CCG but he noted the "continued harassment" and "aggressive actions" of China Coast Guard against the Philippine vessels and the Filipino fishermen involved in the distribution of humanitarian aid in the vicinity waters of Scarborough Shoal.

"Despite the humanitarian goals of this initiative, reports indicate continued harassment from the China Coast Guard towards Filipino fishermen receiving fuel subsidies," he said.

"Nine Chinese vessels have been reported in the area, engaging in aggressive actions against both fishermen and PCG and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels. In light of these challenges, the PCG and BFAR remain committed to prioritizing the safety of Filipino fishermen," he added.

Tarriela said the PCG and BFAR were conducting a humanitarian mission which is designed to support over 35 Filipino fishing boats currently operating in the area. DMS