The Chinese embassy in Manila says Chinese navy ship No. 174 provided swift humanitarian assistance to a distressed Philippine fishing vessel in the South China Sea, delivering essential food and water to a fisherman who had been stranded for three days due to engine failure.

Chinese navy sailors aid Philippine fisherman

by · philstar

MANILA, Philippines — In a rare display of compassion, Chinese navy members came to the aid of a distressed Filipino fisherman in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Christmas Day.

The Chinese embassy in Manila shared videos of how Chinese troops in a rigid hull inflatable boat provided bottled water and food to a man that had a “help me” sign aboard a small fishing boat marked Akia Shanae. 

The Filipino fisherman can be heard repeatedly saying thank you to the Chinese soldiers as both sides exchanged “merry Christmas” greetings.

“Enough food and water for you, don’t be worried,” a Chinese navy soldier was heard saying while tossing supplies to the fisherman. 

“I’m stay here,” the Filipino fisherman told the Chinese troops in strained English apparently in response to an offer to bring him to a safer location. 

In a Facebook post, the Chinese embassy said the incident happened on Dec. 25 wherein “the Chinese navy ship 174 provided swift humanitarian assistance to a distressed Philippine fishing vessel in the South China Sea.” 

The post said the Chinese navy delivered “essential food and water to fisherman who had been stranded for three days due to engine failure, while coordinating follow-up support with the Philippine Coast Guard.” 

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), however, disputed the report of a warship from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) navy of China “helping the distressed Filipino fisherman” on Christmas Day.   

In his statement, PCG spokesman on WPS issues Commodore Jay Tarriela confirmed the incident and wrote the agency “acknowledge(s) and appreciate(s) the humanitarian gesture of the People’s Liberation Army Navy Luyang III-class guided-missile destroyer with bow number 174 in providing a bottle of water and three packs of biscuits to distressed Filipino fisherman off the coast of Zambales.” 

However, he pointed out the fisherman identified as Larry Tumalis “became frightened when the PLA navy warship 174 launched a RHIB.” 

He added, “In response, he (the fisherman) used carbon deposits scraped from the tip of his engine’s exhaust pipe to write ‘HELP ME.’ ” 

The incident happened “approximately 71 nautical miles west of Silanguin Island, Zambales (that) falls well within Philippines’ (exclusive economic zone or EEZ),” thus the PLA Navy ship “had no legitimate reason to operate within the Philippines’ (EEZ),” according to Tarriela.