No justification for China Coast Guard to ram BFAR vessel

A routine humanitarian mission in the West Philippine Sea turned into a high-stakes maritime confrontation on Friday, September 18, 2026. A China Coast Guard ship intentionally struck a Philippine civilian law enforcement vessel roughly 100 kilometers off the coast of Palawan, drawing swift condemnation from Manila and raising tensions in the disputed waterway.

BRP Datu Magat Salamat Damaged Near Abad Santos Shoal

The incident unfolded around 11:13 a.m. when China Coast Guard vessel CCG-21585 struck the starboard side of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ship BRP Datu Magat Salamat, according to the Philippine Coast Guard. The fisheries ship was carrying out a fuel subsidy mission to support local Filipino fishermen operating near Abad Santos Shoal. The incident occurred about 11.8 kilometers north-northwest of Abad Santos Shoal and 100 kilometers from the coast of Palawan, according to the PCG.

Prior to the collision, the Chinese vessel executed a series of close-range blocking maneuvers. At 11:04 a.m., CCG-21585 cut across the stern of the Philippine vessel, approaching within 10 meters. Despite the BRP Datu Magat Salamat maintaining its steady course, the Chinese ship repeated the aggressive maneuver nine minutes later and made direct contact. The PCG said the Chinese vessel later made another maneuver and passed about five meters behind BRP Datu Magat Salamat.

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An initial damage assessment by the Coast Guard revealed that the impact bent, broke, and detached portions of the vessel’s main railings. Metal stanchions and support structures on the starboard side suffered deformation, while deck fixtures and equipment were also displaced, with debris scattered across the deck.

Department of Foreign Affairs Denounces Illegal and Coercive Acts

In an official statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs denounced the actions of the Chinese Coast Guard as entirely unjustified, stating there was no justification for the actions. The agency stressed that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel was engaged in routine and lawful humanitarian activities to support Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs condemns the actions of China Coast Guard vessel. …There is no justification for the CCG vessel to undertake aggressive actions against a Philippine civilian law enforcement vessel, and cause damage to the ship and endanger the safety of the civilian crew,” the department said in a statement.

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The department characterized the maneuvers as illegal, coercive, aggressive and dangerous acts that are inconsistent with China’s obligations under international law, including the UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), and the 1974 Safety of Life at Sea Convention.

Calls for Restraint Under the 2016 Arbitral Award

Philippine officials urged Beijing to respect Philippine sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone in accordance with UNCLOS as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award, exercise restraint and avoid actions that could further escalate tensions in the region. Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela detailed the close-quarter positioning and subsequent impact during the patrol mission.

The broader sovereignty dispute remains rooted in competing claims across the South China Sea. While Beijing claims sovereignty over islands and maritime rights across nearly the entire South China Sea, including areas within the West Philippine Sea, an arbitral tribunal ruled in 2016 that there was no legal basis for China’s claim to historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling inside its so-called nine-dash line. China has rejected the ruling and maintains that it is “null and void.”

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Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan dispatched PCG surface and air assets to the area to assist the damaged fisheries vessel and ensure the safety of its crew. Prior to Friday’s collision, the same vessel—BRP Datu Magat Salamat (MMOV-3015)—had briefly run aground at Hasa-Hasa Shoal on Thursday while approaching Filipino fishing boats to distribute fuel. BRP Malabrigo of the Philippine Coast Guard pulled the vessel free later that day after fishing boats initially failed to refloat it due to low tide and limited towing power, while the PCG also monitored a China Coast Guard aircraft conducting what it described as apparent aerial surveillance over the grounded vessel while the salvage operation was underway.