MANILA, Philippines – Tensions in the South China Sea have once again erupted after dramatic new video footage captured Chinese Coast Guard ships brazenly ramming and firing powerful water cannons at Philippine vessels near a contested island chain this past Sunday. The incident is the latest in a string of increasingly aggressive encounters as Beijing intensifies its campaign to assert total control over the vital strategic waterway.
The confrontation, which took place on October 12, 2025, occurred in the waters near Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, a Philippine-controlled outpost in the Spratly Islands. According to Philippine officials, government and fishing vessels were conducting a routine mission when they were swarmed by Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia ships.
The newly released footage is stark. It shows a large Chinese Coast Guard vessel unleashing a high-pressure water cannon against a smaller Philippine government ship. Just moments later, the same Chinese ship can be seen maneuvering deliberately to ram into the stern of the Philippine vessel, causing what officials described as "minor structural damage." Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the Filipino crew.
In a defiant response, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela posted the videos online, condemning China's actions. He labeled the maneuvers "bullying tactics and aggressive actions," adding forcefully that the Philippines would "not be intimidated or driven away."
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| TKCourtesy of Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson |
This confrontation is not an isolated event but part of a well-documented pattern of "gray zone" aggression by China actions that fall just below the threshold of declared war. The China Coast Guard has long weaponized water cannons in these encounters. Far from being a minor annoyance, these cannons have previously injured personnel and caused significant damage to navigation and communication equipment on Philippine ships.
The tactics have also included dangerous blocking and chasing maneuvers, as well as boarding incidents that Manila has characterized as "piracy," where Chinese personnel were armed with bladed weapons. In other standoffs, China has employed military-grade acoustic devices and powerful lasers, known as dazzlers, against Filipino crews.
PCG and BFAR Stand Firm Against Chinese Bullying and Aggressive Actions in Pag-asa
— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) October 12, 2025
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) have reaffirmed their strong commitment to protecting Filipino fishermen in the Kalayaan Island Group,… pic.twitter.com/okA55L9oWs
While intended to intimidate, these high-risk actions carry the constant threat of miscalculation and fatal accidents. The inherent danger was ironically highlighted in August when China's own forces fell victim to their reckless tactics. During a high-speed chase of a Philippine patrol boat near Scarborough Shoal, a Chinese destroyer inadvertently cut across the path of a Chinese Coast Guard vessel, resulting in a catastrophic collision. Video footage of that incident showed the coast guard ship with a significant gash in its hull.
For its part, China has vehemently rejected the Philippines' account of Sunday's clash. Beijing’s official narrative blames the Philippine vessel for "entering waters that it claims without permission" and alleges it "dangerously approached a Chinese coast guard ship, causing a scrape."
China continues to assert its sweeping territorial claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, ignoring a 2016 international tribunal ruling that invalidated its position. It routinely dismisses complaints from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and other nations, arguing that its actions are lawful and necessary to protect its sovereignty in a waterway that is critical for global trade and rich in natural resources.