‘No justification for China’s ship ramming’

MANILA, Philippines - The ramming by a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship of a Philippine civilian vessel can never be justified, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

"There is no justification for the CCG vessel to undertake aggressive actions against a Philippine civilian law enforcement vessel and cause damage to the ship and endanger the safety of the civilian crew," the DFA said, referring to an incident on Friday off Palawan involving a CCG ship and the BRP Datu Magat Salamat, a law enforcement civilian vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

"The Philippines emphasizes that the BFAR vessel was merely conducting routine and lawful humanitarian activities to support Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea," the DFA added.