Chinese ship “rams” Philippine government vessel in South China Sea: coast guard
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The Philippines said a China Coast Guard ship "rammed" one of its fisheries department boats on Friday morning in contested waters in the South China Sea.
The incident took place near a shoal in the contested Spratly Islands chain, a fish-rich flashpoint that has been the site of violent confrontations with China Coast Guard vessels in recent years.
Beijing claims most of the South China Sea despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
China CG rams BFAR vessel on fuel subsidy mission for Filipino fishermen — 54 NM off Palawan
— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) September 18, 2026
This morning, 18 September 2026, China Coast Guard vessel CCG-21585 rammed BRP Datu Magat Salamat (MMOV 3015), the same BFAR vessel the Philippine Coast Guard assisted yesterday as it… pic.twitter.com/HgE4FiKpQ7
The Chinese vessel "rammed BRP Datu Magat Salamat... as it carried out its maritime patrol to deliver fuel subsidy to our fishermen", Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela said.
"At 11:04 AM, CCG-21585 cut across the stern of the BFAR (fisheries bureau) vessel at a distance of only about 10 meters."
Nine minutes later, the "Chinese vessel repeated the maneuver and this time made contact, striking the BFAR vessel", the statement shared with reporters said.
Video released on X by the Philippine Coast Guard shows the Chinese vessel near the stern of the boat and a crewmember shouting "collision", although the impact is not visible.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
The Philippines and China renewed their confrontations in the South China Sea in July after a brief period of quiet, making headlines just as Manila was hosting a gathering of Asean foreign ministers.
