Philippine Coast Guard Begins Environmental Damage Assessment
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has started an environmental damage assessment after a Chinese vessel ran aground near Pag-asa Island in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), located within the West Philippine Sea (WPS). This incident occurred over the weekend, raising concerns about potential harm to the area’s delicate marine ecosystem.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, confirmed that the vessel involved is suspected to be a Chinese maritime militia ship bearing the bow number 16838. It struck the shallow waters of Pag-asa Reef 1 last Saturday, June 7.
“At present, the PCG, together with other relevant agencies, is preparing to conduct an environmental damage assessment on the reef caused by the unlawful presence of the Chinese maritime militia in the Philippines’ territorial waters,” said Tarriela on Monday, June 9.
The grounded vessel is located approximately one nautical mile from Pag-asa Island. According to Tarriela, harsh weather conditions, including waves reaching two to three meters and strong winds, likely pushed the Chinese ship into the shallow waters of the reef.
“The purpose of this assessment is to determine any ecological damages resulting from this event,” he added.
Efforts to Respond to Grounded Vessel and Local Concerns
Personnel from the PCG stationed on Pag-asa Island immediately contacted the stranded vessel to assess its condition and offer assistance for its removal. This was crucial to prevent further damage to the coral reef and the surrounding territorial waters.
“Unfortunately, the vessel did not respond to our inquiries,” the commodore shared. After about three hours, the Chinese ship was able to refloat and leave the area with assistance from a China Coast Guard ship and two smaller fishing boats.
Local fishermen from Palawan expressed alarm over the presence of the stranded Chinese vessel. Larry Hugo, a fisherman from Pag-asa Island, voiced his fears that the Chinese vessel might have been intentionally grounded on Pag-asa Reef 1, similar to how the Philippine Navy deliberately grounded the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal in 1999.
The Philippine Navy also attempted to reach the Chinese vessel, but their crew remained unresponsive.
Strategic Importance of Pag-asa Island
Pag-asa Island lies approximately 270 nautical miles west of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan. It is the largest of the nine features that the Philippines occupies in the Kalayaan Island Group.
In recent years, military officials have noticed an increasing number of Chinese vessels approaching closer to Pag-asa Island. These movements have heightened concerns among residents about the persistent presence of foreign ships in the area.
China claims several features in the West Philippine Sea despite a 2016 international arbitral ruling that invalidated its nine-dash line claims within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
For more news and updates on West Philippine Sea, visit Filipinokami.com.