The United States, Japan, Australia, Canada and the European Union have condemned or expressed concern over the China Coast Guard’s collision with a Philippine fisheries vessel about 54 nautical miles off Palawan in the West Philippine Sea.
The incident involved China Coast Guard vessel CCG-21585 and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ BRP Datu Magat Salamat on Sept. 18 while the Philippine vessel was conducting a maritime patrol and fuel subsidy mission for Filipino fisherfolk.
The Philippine Coast Guard said the Chinese vessel first cut across the BFAR ship’s stern at a distance of about 10 meters at around 11:04 a.m.
Less than 10 minutes later, the Chinese vessel repeated the maneuver and struck the BRP Datu Magat Salamat while the Philippine vessel was maintaining its course.
The collision damaged the BFAR vessel’s starboard-side structures, including railings, metal stanchions and support structures, while some deck fixtures and equipment were displaced.
The incident occurred near Bombay Shoal, about 54 nautical miles from Palawan and within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, according to Philippine authorities.
US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton condemned what he described as the China Coast Guard’s deliberate ramming of the Philippine vessel.
“We strongly condemn the China Coast Guard’s deliberate ramming of the Philippine BFAR vessel near Bombay Shoal, just 54 miles off the coast of Palawan. We commend the sustained professionalism of our Philippine Allies in the face of this dangerous, destabilizing act,” Lipton said.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela thanked the US envoy and criticized what he called the Chinese vessel’s coercive actions.
Canada also expressed concern, saying the incident’s maneuvers could affect regional peace and stability.
“Canada is concerned by the Chinese Coast Guard deliberately ramming into a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources fisheries enforcement vessel off the coast of the Philippines. These dangerous maneuvers jeopardize regional peace and stability,” the Canadian Embassy in Manila said.
Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown likewise expressed concern over the incident.
“Australia is deeply concerned by reports of ramming and dangerous maneuvers towards a Philippine fisheries vessel by a China Coast Guard vessel in the South China Sea. Such actions are unsafe and destabilizing,” he said.
The EU Delegation in Manila also raised concern, with EU Ambassador Massimo Santoro stressing the importance of maritime safety and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
Japan separately expressed serious concern over the collision.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs had earlier condemned the incident, saying there was “no justification” for the China Coast Guard to undertake aggressive actions against a Philippine civilian law enforcement vessel.
The DFA said the BFAR vessel was conducting routine and lawful humanitarian activities to support Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea.
It called on China to respect Philippine sovereign rights within the country’s exclusive economic zone under UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, while urging restraint to prevent further escalation.
China, however, disputed the Philippine account of the incident. Chinese authorities said the Philippine vessel was responsible for the collision and that Chinese forces acted professionally and lawfully.
The incident has drawn renewed international attention to maritime encounters between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea, particularly as the BRP Datu Magat Salamat was carrying out a mission intended to support Filipino fishermen.
