South China Sea Collision
China Coast Guard vessel rams Philippine fisheries ship in disputed South China Sea
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Key Points
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The Philippine Coast Guard identified the Chinese vessel as CCG-21585. It allegedly cut across the BFAR ship’s stern at about 10 meters at 11:04 a.m., then repeated the maneuver and struck the vessel nine minutes later while it was maintaining course.
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After the collision, CCG-21585 allegedly passed directly behind the Philippine vessel at a distance of only about five meters, according to Philippine officials.
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The Philippine Coast Guard released video showing the Chinese vessel near the BFAR ship’s stern; although the impact itself was not visible, a crew member can be heard shouting “collision.”
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The incident occurred about 6.36 nautical miles north-northwest of Abad Santos Shoal, according to the Philippine Coast Guard, and officials said the area lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
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The BRP Datu Magat Salamat had reportedly run aground at Hasa-Hasa Shoal the previous day while approaching Filipino fishing boats to distribute fuel, adding operational context to the mission during which the collision occurred.
A China Coast Guard vessel rammed a Philippine government ship delivering fuel to fishermen in the South China Sea on September 18, with Rappler reporting the collision damaged the BRP Datu Magat Salamat's railings, support structures, and deck equipment. The incident occurred at 11:13 a.m. near Abad Santos Shoal, roughly 54 nautical miles off Palawan and within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. The Philippine Coast Guard called the ramming deliberate; China blamed the Philippine vessel for the collision.
Video released by Philippine authorities captured a crew member shouting 'collision' as the Chinese vessel CCG-21585 struck the ship's starboard side. Al Jazeera reported no crew injuries were initially documented. The collision marks the closest Chinese ramming to the Philippine mainland to date, intensifying tensions over competing South China Sea claims.
How the Ramming Unfolded in Minutes
At 11:04 a.m., China Coast Guard ship CCG-21585 made a close pass across the stern of the Philippine vessel at roughly 10 meters distance. Nine minutes later, the Chinese ship repeated the maneuver and struck the Philippine vessel while it maintained its course. Moneycontrol reported the Chinese vessel then passed directly behind the Philippine ship at only about five meters away. The entire sequence took less than 15 minutes.
Philippines Accuses China of Intentional Attack
Philippine Coast Guard Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela called the incident an 'intentional ramming' rather than an accident, stating the Chinese vessel 'deliberately rammed a civilian government vessel on a humanitarian and livelihood mission.' 24newsHD reported that Philippine officials said the Chinese ship made aggressive close-range maneuvers before striking. The Philippine vessel was delivering subsidized fuel to local fishermen when the collision occurred.
Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan immediately dispatched surface and air assets to assist the crew. Times of India noted the mission was part of the Philippine government's fuel subsidy program to support fishing communities. The ramming left the ship unseaworthy and forced it to abort its mission and head toward Coron Port.
China Blames Philippine Vessel for the Collision
China's Foreign Ministry rejected Philippine accusations, claiming the Philippine vessel ignored warnings and altered course directly into the Chinese ship's path. Beijing asserted that Manila 'bears full responsibility for the incident.' Al Jazeera reported that China accused the Philippine ship of accelerating across the Chinese vessel's bow. The two countries offered conflicting accounts of what caused the collision.
Escalation Amid Long-Running Territorial Dispute
The collision marks another flashpoint in China's gray-zone maritime strategy—using non-lethal tactics like ramming and water cannons to harass Philippine supply ships without triggering armed conflict. The incident occurred 54 nautical miles off Palawan, making it the closest Chinese ramming to the Philippine mainland on record. The 2016 international arbitration ruling supports the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, but China refuses to recognize it.
The BRP Datu Magat Salamat had run aground at Hasa-Hasa Shoal the previous day while approaching Filipino fishing boats but was refloated with Coast Guard help. The ship's fuel delivery mission aims to keep local fishermen operational in contested waters. Suspension of this aid due to the ramming threatens livelihoods and signals Beijing's willingness to disrupt civilian operations within areas the Philippines claims as its own.
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