The Philippine Coast Guard reported that Chinese Coast Guard ships used powerful water cannons and rammed a Philippine government vessel, the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, off Thitu Island in the disputed South China Sea. This incident, which occurred on Sunday, resulted in slight damage to the anchored vessel, though no injuries were reported among the Filipino crew. The BRP Datu Pagbuaya is part of the Philippines' fisheries fleet that supports Filipino fishermen in the region.
Two other Philippine fisheries vessels were also targeted with water cannons in the same encounter, which took place approximately 1.6 nautical miles (nearly 3 kilometers) from Thitu Island. Fortunately, these two vessels sustained no damage, and no injuries were reported among their crew members. The Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson, Commodore Jay Tarriela, stated that the Chinese actions included dangerous maneuvers aimed at forcing the Philippine vessels to alter their course.
Conversely, the Chinese Coast Guard denied the Philippine account, asserting that the Philippine government vessels "disregarded China’s repeated dissuasion and warnings" and "deliberately intruded into waters of Huangyan Dao within China’s jurisdiction." This latest confrontation highlights the ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea, involving Manila, Beijing, and other governments in the region. Despite the incident, the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) mission, which involved distributing fuel subsidies and food packs to Filipino fishermen, was completed.
