Additional Coverage:
Philippine Coast Guard Vessel Rammed by China Ship in South China Sea Incident
MANILA – A Philippine government boat engaged in a resupply mission was struck by a China Coast Guard vessel in the South China Sea on Friday, resulting in damage to the Philippine ship but no reported injuries, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed. This event marks the latest episode in the ongoing maritime tensions between the two nations over disputed waters.
The vessel involved, BRP Datu Magat Salamat, operated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, was delivering fuel to Filipino fishermen approximately 54 nautical miles off Palawan province. According to the PCG, the Chinese ship executed a series of aggressive maneuvers before making contact with the Philippine vessel.
In an official statement, the Philippine Coast Guard condemned the incident, describing it as a deliberate act against a civilian government vessel on a humanitarian and livelihood mission. Footage provided by the PCG captures crew members warning to “brace for impact” moments before the collision, which occurred at 11:13 a.m. local time. Photographs taken after the collision show bent railings, damaged deck structures, and scattered debris.
The China Coast Guard responded by asserting that it was conducting law enforcement operations near Sabina Shoal and accused the Philippine vessel of ignoring repeated warnings, altering its course abruptly, and accelerating dangerously close to the Chinese ship’s bow. The Chinese authorities maintained that their crew acted professionally and attributed responsibility for the collision to the Philippine side.
This incident follows a series of confrontations earlier this year, including accusations by Manila that Beijing used water cannons against Philippine government vessels near Scarborough Shoal and that a Philippine Navy officer was struck on the head with a wooden baton during a clash near the Second Thomas Shoal. The recent collision underscores the fragile and often volatile nature of interactions in the contested maritime areas of the South China Sea.