Chinese Ship Rams Philippine Vessel in South China Sea, Manila Says

Photo Source: Philippine Coast Guard

Tensions flared once again in the disputed South China Sea on Sunday (Oct 12), after the Philippines accused a Chinese ship of deliberately ramming one of its government vessels near Thitu Island, part of the contested Spratly Islands. Beijing, however, denied responsibility and instead blamed Manila for the incident.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the confrontation began when a Chinese coast guard ship "fired its water cannon" at the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, a fisheries bureau vessel, at around 9:15 a.m. local time.

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"Just three minutes later ... the same (Chinese) vessel deliberately rammed the stern" of the Philippine boat, "causing minor structural damage but no injuries to the crew," the statement said.

The incident took place near Thitu Island, one of the Philippines’ most significant outposts in the Spratlys — an area long claimed by both countries. Despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling invalidating Beijing’s expansive claims, China continues to assert sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea.

The Philippine National Maritime Council, the country’s inter-agency body for maritime governance, condemned the ramming as “aggressive and illegal,” vowing to pursue “appropriate diplomatic action to convey its strong objections to the aggressive and illegal actions of China.”

Angelica Escalona, spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, confirmed that a formal diplomatic protest will be filed.

China’s coast guard presented a different version of events, saying the incident occurred after a Philippine vessel entered waters near Sandy Cay, “ignored repeated stern warnings from the Chinese side, and dangerously approached” the Chinese ship.

"Full responsibility lies with the Philippine side," spokesman Liu Dejun said in an online statement.

“Bullying Tactics”

Images and footage released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed a China Coast Guard ship activating its water cannon while shadowing the Philippine vessel.

"Despite these bullying tactics and aggressive actions ... we will not be intimidated or driven away," the coast guard said.

The latest clash adds to a growing list of confrontations between the two nations in the strategic waterway, through which more than 60 percent of global maritime trade passes.

Just last month, one person was injured when a water cannon blast from a Chinese coast guard ship shattered a window on the BRP Datu Gumbay Piang, another fisheries vessel, near the Beijing-controlled Scarborough Shoal.

In August, tensions also flared when a Chinese navy ship collided with a Chinese coast guard vessel while pursuing a Philippine patrol boat near the same shoal — an area China seized from the Philippines in 2012 following a protracted standoff.