PCG to assess damage caused by grounded Chinese ship off Pag-asa island

In this image made from video provided by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Public Affairs Office, a Chinese vessel passes shallow waters off Philippines-occupied Thitu island in the disputed South China Sea on Saturday June 7, 2025. (Armed Forces of the Philippines, Public Affairs Office via AP)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will conduct an environmental damage assessment at  Pag-asa Reef 1 after a Chinese Maritime Militia vessel ran aground in the area, which is about one nautical mile from Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

PCG spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said the Chinese vessel with the bow number 16838 was “likely driven into the shallow area due to adverse sea conditions, characterized by wave heights of 2 to 3 meters and strong winds,” over the weekend.

Philippine Coast Guard Monitors Grounding of Suspected Chinese Maritime Militia Vessel at Pagasa Reef-1

Last Saturday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) observed a suspected Chinese Maritime Militia vessel, identified by bow number 16838, that ran aground at Pagasa Reef 1,… pic.twitter.com/lJMpFTE1GF

— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) June 9, 2025

“At present, the PCG, in collaboration with other relevant organizations, is preparing to carry out an environmental damage assessment on the reef caused by the unlawful presence of the Chinese Maritime Militia in the Philippines’ territorial waters,” Tarriela said in an online post on Monday.

“The goal of this assessment is to evaluate any potential ecological impacts resulting from this situation,” he added.

Prior to this, Tarriela said  PCG personnel stationed at Pag-asa Island tried to contact the crew inside the grounded vessel “to evaluate its condition and render support for its removal.”

The Chinese vessel, however, ignored PCG’s attempt to help and was able to free itself without external assistance after approximately three hours.

Tarriela likewise said that Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5102 communicated with the other ship during the incident but did not approach Pag-asa Reef-1 to avoid risk of grounding in the shallow waters.

Since January, Philippine authorities have been monitoring the movements of CCG vessels “unlawfully operating” within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

Beijing’s ongoing aggression is rooted in its broad claim of sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, including much of the West Philippine Sea, and its continued rejection of the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated its claims and favored Manila.

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