CaliToday (12/8/2025): The Philippines on Tuesday expressed grave concern over what it described as "dangerous actions and illegal interference" by Chinese vessels during a resupply mission for Filipino fishermen at Scarborough Shoal on Monday.
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| The bow of the Chinese ship was smashed after it collided with another Chinese naval vessel |
"Their actions not only gravely endangered the Philippine personnel and vessels but also resulted in an unfortunate collision between two Chinese ships," the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), which documented the incident on video, a Chinese naval vessel collided with a smaller coast guard ship while it was pursuing one of the PCG vessels involved in the mission.
China's Ministry of National Defense and its embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the department's statement.
On Monday, the Chinese coast guard stated that it had taken necessary measures to expel the Philippine vessels from the waters surrounding Scarborough Shoal.
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The Philippines said it had offered medical and other assistance to the Chinese side, including an offer to tow the damaged Chinese Coast Guard vessel from the area.
"Yesterday's incident underscores the importance of adherence to international maritime rules," the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs stated. The Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to diplomacy and dialogue in resolving disputes.
The incident on Monday marks the latest in a series of events amid escalating tensions between Manila and Beijing over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
A 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated Beijing's sweeping sovereignty claims in the region, finding them to have no basis under international law, a decision that China has rejected.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Rear Admiral Roy Trinidad, the Philippine Navy's spokesperson for the South China Sea, warned that similar incidents could happen again if China continues to conduct what he called "illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive" activities in the strategic waterway.
