A Chinese vessel, allegedly belonging to the Chinese Coast Guard, rammed three boats carrying 29 Filipino fishermen in Panatag Shoal last week, Inquirer.net reported.
According to the report, the incident happened that around 9 a.m. on Friday. One of the fishermen said they were out at sea for five days when big waves and strong winds forced them to take refuge in the shallow waters of the shoal.
The fishermen, who were from Barangay Calapandayan in Subic, Zambales, told the Inquirer that Chinese coast guard personnel ordered them to leave the area before the Chinese vessel rammed theirs.
No one was hurt in the incident but the fishermen recalled seeing two Chinese coast guard personnel holding guns that were pointed at their direction, the report said.
The incident was reported to a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) detachment in nearby Pangasinan province.
Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) is located 124 nautical miles from Masinloc town in Zambales and 472 nautical miles from China’s nearest coastal province of Hainan.
