MANILA, Philippines — On Monday, Chinese and Philippine Coast Guard ships collided following a confrontation at Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

According to a statement from the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard vessels BRP Bagacay and BRP Cape Engaño encountered unlawful and aggressive maneuvers from Chinese Coast Guard vessels while en route to Patag and Lawak Islands. These maneuvers led to a collision with the starboard beam of BRP Cape Engaño, causing a hole in its deck.

Shortly after, BRP Bagacay was also rammed twice by the Chinese vessel on both its port and starboard sides, resulting in minor structural damage.

“Despite these incidents, both PCG vessels remain committed to and shall proceed with their mission of delivering essential supplies to personnel stationed on Patag and Lawak Islands,” said Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya.

“The PCG stands firm in its responsibility to ensure the safety and security of our maritime domain while addressing any threats to our national interests,” Malaya added.

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea further urged restraint and adherence to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and other relevant agreements to prevent further escalation and ensure the safety of maritime vessels.

China Blames the Philippines for the Collision

Meanwhile, China has blamed the Philippine Coast Guard for the incident at Escoda Shoal. According to China Coast Guard spokesperson Geng Yu, a Philippine vessel “deliberately collided” with a Chinese ship.

“Philippine Coast Guard vessels … illegally entered the waters near Xianbin Reef in the Nansha Islands without permission from the Chinese government,” Geng said, using the Chinese names for Escoda Shoal and the Kalayaan Group of Islands.

“The China Coast Guard took control measures against the Philippine vessels in accordance with the law,” Geng added.

China and the Philippines have had frequent clashes in the critical waterway in recent months, including incidents involving the BRP Sierra Madre, which has been grounded for years on Ayungin Shoal, where it serves as a garrison.

Despite an international tribunal ruling that Beijing’s claims lack legal basis, China has continued to assert its claims over practically the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea.

Recently, Global Times, a Chinese publication, claimed that the Philippines is planning to send a second coast guard vessel in an attempt to construct a forward deployment base in the form of a semi-permanent floating platform. However, Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela dismissed these allegations as unfounded.

“While their unfounded fears regarding the Philippines potentially establishing a forward deployment base in Escoda Shoal are too absurd to warrant a response, this behavior reveals the mindset and actions of the PRC (People’s Republic of China),” Tarriela said in a statement.

“Their suspicions about the Philippines engaging in such actions stem from their own pattern of unlawfully occupying maritime areas in the South China Sea, followed by illegal reclamation and provocative militarization of those features,” Tarriela added.

📷 Philippine Coast Guard / Commodore Jay Tarriela