 "On October 12, Manila's coast guard alleged that a Chinese vessel deliberately rammed a Philippine government ship anchored near an island in the South China Sea, while China maintained that the Philippines is \"fully responsible\" for the incident. (Photo: AFP)")
A Chinese coast guard ship used a water cannon and rammed a Philippine government vessel on Sunday off Thitu Island, also known as Pag-asa, in the disputed South China Sea, the Philippine coast guard reported. The incident involved the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, part of the fisheries fleet supporting Filipino fishermen, with no injuries among the crew. The confrontation marks the latest escalation in territorial disputes involving Manila, Beijing, and four other governments.
The Chinese coast guard ship, bearing bow number 21559, first fired its water cannon directly at the Pagbuaya before ramming its stern three minutes later, causing minor structural damage. Video released by the Philippine coast guard showed the water cannon striking the vessel and its two Philippine flags, prompting the Filipino crew to move away from the Chinese ship.
Philippine blames China
Commodore Jay Tarriela, a Philippine coast guard spokesperson, described the manoeuvres as “dangerous and provocative” but stressed that Manila would not “surrender a square inch of our territory to any foreign power.” Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan added that the harassment only strengthened the resolve of Filipino fisherfolk, who rely on the waters around Thitu for their livelihood.
Thitu is the largest of nine islands, islets, and reefs in the Spratlys occupied by the Philippines, which also hosts a local fishing community. The region is highly contested, with China transforming seven barren reefs into island bases equipped with missile systems, three of which have runways, including Subi, located just over 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Thitu.
The faceoff comes as the Marcos administration contends with domestic emergencies, including recent earthquakes that killed more than 80 people in central and southern Philippines and successive typhoons that caused widespread damage.
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Tensions between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea have escalated throughout the year, particularly around the Scarborough Shoal, a key fishing area.
China asserts claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, a crucial maritime route supporting more than $3 trillion in annual shipping trade, with overlapping claims from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.