by Franco Jose C. Baroña - Agence France-Presse - Philippine News Agency
Jan 26, 2025 12:12 am
(UPDATE) THE Philippines said Saturday it had suspended a scientific survey in the contested South China Sea (SCS) due to 'dangerous' harassment by Chinese navy and coast guard vessels and aircraft.
Commo. Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said that while en route to Sandy Cays, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) patrol vessels BRP Datu Pagbuaya and BRP Datu Bankaw encountered dangerous maneuvers by three China Coast Guard vessels, identified as CCG 4106, 5103, and 4202.
SEA BULLY A Chinese ship (right) blocks a Philippine vessel belonging to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) from conducting its research survey near Pag-asa (Thitu), the largest Philippine-occupied island in the disputed Spratlys chain, on July 25, 2025. SCREENGRAB FROM THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD