Chinese fishing ship runs aground briefly near Pag-asa Island

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The military says the vessel extricated itself, but civilians based in Pag-asa Island say two other fishing ships pulled the vessel out

PALAWAN, Philippines – A Chinese fishing vessel found itself temporarily stuck in waters east of Pag-asa Island on Saturday, June 7, during inclement weather over the West Philippine Sea. 

Pag-asa Island locals first reported the grounded fishing boat to local authorities. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel stationed in Pag-asa then sent troops to check on the grounded vessel at around 3 pm on June 7. 

Navy personnel were also on standby to assist the PCG, Captain Ellaine Collado, Public Affairs Office chief of the Western Naval Command, said in an interview aboard the BRP Andres Bonifacio late Saturday evening. 

But by around 4:30 pm the same day, Philippine officials reported the ship had already extricated itself. 

Residents, however, reported that the vessel only left at around 5:30 pm, Councilor Maurice Phillip Albayda said in an interview on Sunday, June 8. 

Albayda, citing reports from residents, said two other fishing vessels pulled the grounded ship away from the reef. Residents said the two were also Chinese fishing vessels. 

While neither Navy nor PCG personnel could confirm the exact time the ship ran aground, Collado noted that weather in and around Pag-asa Island, the farthest territory in the West Philippine Sea where a permanent Filipino civilian population lives, “was not good.” 

Navy and PCG personnel did not identify the vessel’s bow number, but it seemed to resemble ships used to support the operations of China Coast Guard operations in the West Philippine Sea. 

Philippine authorities call these fishing vessels, usually seen lingering in Chinese-controlled or claimed features of the West Philippine Sea, Chinese Maritime Militia. 

“The intention of the AFP is to provide assistance kung ano yung maitutulong sa [if it can provide assistance to a] grounded vessel,” added Collado, asked about the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s role in the incident. 

Several international laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, spell out the duty of signatory states to help distressed and stranded persons at sea. 

Pag-asa Island is part of the Kalayaan Group of Islands under the province of Palawan. A civilian population lives permanently in the island. Navy, PCG, and Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel are also stationed in Pag-asa.  – Rappler.com