A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel sustained heavy damage Monday following a collision with a Chinese Navy warship during a tense maritime encounter with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) near Bajo de Masinloc, also known internationally as Scarborough Shoal.
According to the PCG, the incident occurred as it carried out its “Kadiwa Para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda” program, delivering supplies to Filipino fishing boats operating in the contested waters. The BRP Teresa Magbanua, BRP Suluan, and MV Pamamalakaya departed early in the morning to support around 35 fishing vessels in the area.
During the mission, PCG ships and the fishermen they escorted were met with “hazardous maneuvers and blocking actions” by other vessels in the vicinity. The PCG reported that the patrol vessel MRRV 4406 was targeted with a water cannon, but the crew avoided being hit through evasive handling.
The confrontation escalated when CCG vessel 3104, while pursuing the BRP Suluan at high speed, executed what the PCG described as a dangerous maneuver off the starboard quarter of the Filipino ship. This action led to a collision with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) destroyer 164, located approximately 10.5 nautical miles east of Bajo de Masinloc.
The impact left the CCG ship’s forecastle severely damaged, rendering it unseaworthy. In the immediate aftermath, the PCG offered assistance to the Chinese crew, including man-overboard recovery and medical support. There was no official confirmation from either side regarding casualties.
Meanwhile, the PCG’s MRRV 9701 escorted the Filipino fishermen to safety, where they received fuel and other essential supplies.
The Chinese government offered a starkly different account of the events. According to the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China, the Philippine Coast Guard and government vessels had “forcibly intruded” into the waters of Huangyan Dao under the “pretext” of delivering supplies to fishing boats, despite “repeated dissuasion and warnings” from Chinese authorities.
China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu said on Monday that Chinese units “took all necessary measures, including tracking, monitoring, blocking, and controlling” to drive the Philippine vessels away. Gan added that “on-site operations were conducted in a professional, standard, and lawful manner.”
Gan reiterated Beijing’s position that “Huangyan Island is an inherent part of China’s territory” and said the China Coast Guard would “continue to carry out rights-protection law enforcement activities” in the waters surrounding the island “in accordance with the law” and would “resolutely safeguard China’s national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”
Bajo de Masinloc, a traditional fishing ground for Filipino fishermen, lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone but is also claimed by China, which refers to it as Huangyan Island. The area has been a flashpoint for repeated confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels, often involving coast guard ships, maritime militia boats, and fishing vessels from both countries.
The collision between the CCG vessel and the PLAN warship is the latest in a string of incidents underscoring the volatility of the disputed South China Sea. While both sides have avoided direct military engagement, encounters frequently escalate into high-risk maneuvers that increase the danger of accidents.
Monday’s events come amid heightened tensions in the region, with Philippine authorities publicly vowing to maintain their presence in contested waters and China reiterating its territorial claims.
The Ministry of National Defense in Beijing did not acknowledge any collision between Chinese vessels in its statement, and there was no immediate comment from the People’s Liberation Army Navy regarding the extent of the damage to the CCG ship.