A Chinese Type 052D destroyer, identified as Guilin, and a China Coast Guard vessel collided while attempting to intercept a Philippine patrol boat near the disputed waters of Bajo de Masinloc in the South China Sea.
The incident was reported by Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard, in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
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According to Tarriela, the Chinese vessels were manoeuvring to block Filipino fishermen who were heading to the area in the morning. The Philippine Coast Guard had deployed the vessels BRP Teresa Magbanua, BRP Suluan, and MV Pamamalakaya as part of the Kadiwa ng Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda initiative, aimed at supporting local fishermen. At the time, around 35 Filipino fishing boats were in the area.
During the operation, the China Coast Guard vessel CCG 3104 aggressively pursued the BRP Suluan, executing a risky starboard manoeuvre that resulted in a collision with the destroyer Guilin. The impact caused several Chinese crew members on deck to fall overboard.
The Chinese Coast Guard ship sustained severe damage, compromising its buoyancy and increasing the risk of sinking. Immediately after the accident, Philippine forces offered assistance in searching for the missing crew members and provided medical care to the injured. At the same time, they successfully escorted the fishermen to a safe zone, where they received fuel and supplies.
Philippine Coast Guard officials accused Chinese maritime forces of unprofessional conduct, stressing that the incident reflects escalating tensions in the territorial dispute, which has seen both sides resort to blockades and the use of water cannons against each other’s vessels.
The incident comes amid the ongoing dispute over the South China Sea. The Philippines maintains an active presence, particularly in the Sabina Shoal area, despite Chinese provocations and demands. In 2016, the Hague Arbitral Tribunal rejected Beijing’s territorial claims, but China refuses to recognise the ruling and continues to carry out aggressive operations in the region.
Source and images: Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard. X @jaytaryela. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
